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William  Penn  in  America: 

OR    AN 

ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  LIFE 


FROM  THE  TIME  HE  RECEIVED  THE  GRANT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA 

IN  1681,  UNTIL  HIS  FINAL  RETURN 

TO  ENGLAND. 


Givtng,  as  far  as  possible,  his  every-day  occurrences 
while  in  the  Province. 


WILLIAM  J.  BUCK, 

W 

MEMBER    OP   THE   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY   OF    PENNSYLVANIA, 

Author  0/  " History  0/  Bucks  County,"   ^'History  of  Moreland,"    '* History  0/ 
Montgomery  County  within  the  Schuylkill  Valley,"  "History  of  Montgom- 
ery County,"  "Life  of  Chief-Justice  Langhorne,"  "Contributions  to 
\  the  History  of  Bucks  County,"  "The  Cuttelossa"  "The  Local 

W         Historian"  "  History  of  the  Indian  Walk,"  "  Local  Sketches 
'     ^         and    Legends"    "Early    Discovery    of    Coal    in 
Pennsylvania,"   "Early  Accounts  of  Petro- 
leum in  the  United  States"  etc.,  etc. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

FRIENDS'    BOOK    ASSOCIATION. 

S.  W.  Cor.  15TH  and  Race  Sts. 

1888. 


F 


Edition  limited  to  Three  Hundred  Copies. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1888,  by 

WILLIAM   J.   BUCK, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


:    •    -l.i-i^S: 


PREFACE. 

Although  several  biographies  have  appeared  re- 
specting the  Founder  of  Pennsylvania,  the  author 
believes  that  there  is  still  room  for  another  ;  relating  to 
that  particular  portion  of  his  life  which  he  spent  in  the 
Province:  commencing  with  his  first  application 
for  the  grant  until  his  final  return  to  England,  extend- 
ing through  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years. 
Within  this  time  transpired  the  most  important  events 
by  which  he  will  continue  to  be  best  known.  Judging 
by  the  little  space  given  hitherto  to  these  matters 
would  go  to  show  that  there  must  have  been  either 
inattention,  or  a  paucity  of  materials.  Though  his 
several  biographers  have  written  with  different  motives, 
but  not  one  with  a  view  of  enlarging  upon  the  details 
of  his  residence  in  America. 

During  the  author's  long  connection  with  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania,  he  observed  that  no 
information  was  more  sought  after  than  that  of  Penn 
while  living  in  his  Province.  The  object  of  this  work 
is  to  supply  this  want,  and  what  is  now  offered  is  the 
result  of  upwards  of  thirty-five  years  diligent  labor  in 


92S8S5 


bringing  together  the  materials,  involving  considerable 
travel  and  expense.  When  we  remember  that  nearly 
the  whole  of  its  contents  relate  to  almost  two  centuries 
ago,  we  are  gratified  at  our  success  in  thus  producing 
a  valuable  addition,  not  only  to  the  life  of  Penn,  but  to 
the  early  history  of  Pennsylvania,  derived,  as  it  chiefly 
is,  from  original  sources,  and  that  of  the  most  reliable 
kind,  particularly  official  documents  and  correspond- 
ence, from  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  give  nu- 
merous extracts. 

Our  object  as  far  as  possible  was  to  show  the  every- 
day movements  of  Penn  whilst  among  us ;  this  has 
enabled  us  to  detect  as  well  as  to  correct  several  errors 
respecting  dates.  With  the  exception  of  Janney,  his 
biographers  appear  to  have  given  little  attention  to 
chronology,  particularly  Clarkson  and  Dixon.  At  the 
remissness  of  the  latter  in  this  respect  we  wonder  when 
we  consider  how  well  his  work  has  been  digested.  From 
the  extensive  use  made  of  early  original  manuscripts  we 
were  necessitated  to  take  some  liberties  therewith. 
While  we  have  in  some  cases  made  literal  extracts,  in 
others  we  have  modernized  the  phraseology,  or  filled 
up  the  abbreviations ;  but  in  no  instance  did  we  alter 
the  language  or  endeavor  to  give  it  a  construction 
different  from  the  original ;  our  intention  in  this  respect 


5 


was  only  to  perform  the  part  of  a  careful  editor.  This 
work  naturally  divides  itself  into  two  parts,  namely  : 
his  first  and  second  visits  here.  The  former  begins 
with  Penn's  grant  and  ends  with  his  arrival  in  Eng- 
land, the  next  with  his  second  return  and  final  de- 
parture to  the  appointment  of  Governor  Evans. 

To  avoid  too  many  notes  or  references,  a  list  is  fur- 
nished of  the  various  authorities  consulted  in  the  pre- 
paration of  this  work.  It  will  be  noticed  that  among 
those  published,  about  one-fourth  are  rare  and  little 
known,  whilst  of  the  manuscripts  perhaps  no  other 
complete  copies  exist.  On  any  disputed  points,  or 
where  the  author's  opinion  might  differ,  he  was  the 
more  careful  to  furnish  his  authorities.  Taken  on  the 
whole,  Penn's  character  by  this  work  is  favorably  sus- 
tained ;  at  the  same  time  we  did  not  desire  to  be 
partial,  but  to  do  him  that  justice  to  which  he  is  fairly 
entitled.  Neither  have  we  sought  to  raise  him  up  by 
reviling  his  enemies,  but  to  let  his  actions  speak  for 
themselves.  We  attribute  most  of  his  troubles,  not  so 
much  to  the  opposition  that  he  encountered,  as  to  his 
own  pecuniary  mismanagement;  this  was  his  dire  afflic- 
tion and  if  it  did  not  follow  him  through  his  whole  career, 
it  did  at  least  through  most  of  it.  It  was  his  weak- 
ness ; — naturally  generous,  warm-hearted  and  indulgent 


as  a  parent,  he  could  not  resist  the  strong  appeals 
continually  made  to  him,  and  hence  his  em- 
barrassments. 

Among  published  works  we  have  derived  great  aid 
from  the  Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence,  the  Colonial 
Records  and  Archives,  and  the  Memoirs  and  Col- 
lections of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 
From  manuscript  sources  we  have  obtained  considerable 
from  the  Penn  Manuscripts,  the  Dreer  Collection  of 
Penn  and  Markham  Manuscripts,  the  Penn  Private 
Correspondence,  the  Claypoole  Letter  Book,  the  Har- 
rison Letters,  the  Logan  Papers,  and  the  Records  and 
Minutes  belonging  to  at  least  five  Monthly  Meetings 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  were  all  personally  ex- 
amined. In  the  way  of  assistance  for  information  fur- 
nished, tender  grateful  acknowledgements  to  Ferdinand 
J.  Dreer,  to  whose  invaluable  collection  of  manuscripts 
I  owe  much,  also  to  John  Jordan,  Jr.,  and  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Pennsylvania ;  thanks  are  also  due  for 
favors  to  the  several  custodians  of  the  Records  men- 
tioned in  the  following  list.  This  work  we  know 
might  have  been  greatly  extended,  but  our  object 
was  to  be  concise,  while  we  aimed  at  fullness  with 
detail. 

To  a   work  of  this  kind  we   have   noticed  several 


references.  Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  in  his  Address  be- 
fore the  Philosophical  Society  in  1821,  remarks,  "  No 
other  State  in  this  Union  can  boast  of  such  an  illustri- 
ous founder;  none  began  their  social  career  under 
auspices  so  honorable  to  humanity.  Every  trait  of  the 
life  of  that  great  man,  every  fact  and  anecdote  of  those 
golden  times,  will  be  sought  for  by  our  descendants 
with  avidity,  and  will  furnish  many  an  interesting 
subject  for  the  fancy  of  the  novelist,  and  the  enthusi- 
asm of  the  poet.  It  is,  therefore,  highly  important, 
that  while  recent  traditions  and  numerous  authentic 
but  perishable  documents  are  still  in  our  power,  we 
should  collect  all  those  valuable  materials,  and  embody 
their  substance  in  an  historical  work  worthy  of  being 
handed  down  to  posterity.  Although  such  a  work 
will  not  be  fruitful  of  great  incidents,  still  it  will  ex- 
hibit human  nature  under  a  varied  aspect ;  great  faults 
will  be  found  associated  with  great  virtues ;  the  reader 
more  than  once,  while  he  admires  the  latter,  be  com- 
pelled with  regret  to  acknowledge,  as  the  former 
strikes  his  view,  that  no  efforts  of  the  human  mind  can 
ever  produce  absolute  perfection  in  this  sublunary 
world ;  and  upon  the  whole,  it  may  with  truth  be 
asserted,  that  there  will  be  found  in  the  history  of 
Pennsylvania,  much  to  instruct  and  much  to  delight." 


8 


William  Rawle,  in  his  address  before  the  Historical 
Society  in  1825,  expressed  the  following  views :  "Of 
the  founder  of  Pennsylvania,  though  the  public  knows 
much,  it  does  not  perhaps  know  all.  There  is  reason 
to  believe  that  many  private  documents  are  still  in  ex- 
istence, which  would  present  to  us  in  colors  strong  and 
true,  the  enlightening,  vivifying  and  chastening  power 
of  his  genius  on  all  around  him ;  while  the  colony 
hung  on  him  as  their  judge,  their  legislator,  and  their 
guide."  **  That  such  a  character,"  remarks  James 
Bowden,  "  as  William  Penn  should  have  had  many 
biographers  cannot  excite  surprise.  His  fame  may  be 
said  to  be  world-wide,  and  men  of  far  different  senti- 
ments to  have  inscribed  his  name  on  the  pages  of 
history,  as  one  of  the  most  illustrious  of  his  age — an 
age,  it  should  be  remembered,  of  stirring  events,  and 
conspicuous  for  men  of  brilliant  attainments." 

W.  J.  B. 

Jenkintown,  Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  November,  1888. 


LIST    OF    AUTHORITIES. 

Correspondence  between  Wm.  Penn  and  James  Logan,  2  vols.,  Phila., 

1870. 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  vol.  I.     Eldited  by  Samuel  Hazard,  Phila.,  1852. 
Annals  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Samuel  Hazard,  Phila.,  1850. 
Minutes  of  the  Provincial  Council  of   Pennsylvania,  commonly   called 

Colonial  Records,  vols.  I.  and  H.,  Phila.,  1852. 
History  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Robert  Proud,  2  vols.,  Phila.,  1797. 
Hazard's  Register  of  Pennsylvania,  16  vols.      Phila.,  1828  to  1836. 
Life  of  William  Penn,  by  Samuel  M.  Janney,  Phila.,  2ded.,  1856. 
Documents  relating  to  the  Colonial  History  of  New  York,  Albany,  vols. 

HL  and  IV.,  1854. 
Present  State  of  America,  by  Robert  Blome,  London,  1687. 
British  Empire  in  America,  by  J.  Oldmixon,  2  vols.,  London,  1708  and 

1741. 
William  Penn  :    An  Historical  Biography,  by  Wm.    Hepworth   Dixon, 

Phila.  ed.,  1851. 
Annals  of  Philadelphia  and  Pennsylvania,  by  John  F.  Watson,  2  vols., 

Phila.,  1844. 
History  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Thomas  F.  Gordon,  Phila.,  1829. 
History  of  Delaware  County,  Penna.,  by  George  Smith,  Phila.,  1862. 
Friends'  Library,  Phila.,  1840,  vol.  IV.,  and  vol.  X.  for  1846. 
History   of  Friends  in  America,  by  James   Bowden,    London,   2   vols., 

1854- 
Travels  in  North  America,  by  Robert  Sutcliff,  Phila.,  1812. 
Life  of  William  Penn,  by  Thomas  Clarkson,  2  vols.,  London,  1813. 
Memoirs  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  vols.  I.,  II.,  III.,  and 

IV. 
Address  to  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Ed.  Armstrong,  in 

1851,  Phila.,  1852. 
Friends'  Miscellany,  Phila.,  vol.  VII.  for  1835. 
Collections  of   the   Historical  Society  of   Pennsylvania.,  vol.  VI.,  1853, 

Phila. 
The  Friend,  Phila.,  1829-30,  vol.  III. 

Original  Settlements  on  the  Delaware,  by  Benj.  Ferris,  Wilmington,  1846. 
Friends'  Weekly  Intelligencer,  vol.  II.  for  1845,  and  vol.  IV.  for  1848. 


10 


Historical  Review  of  the  Government  of  Pennsylvania,  London,  1759. 

History  of  Bucks  County,  Penna.,  by  Wm.  J.  Buck,  Doylestown,i855. 

Contributions  to  the  History  of  Bucks  County  in  B.  C.  Intelligencer,  by 
Wm.  J.  Buck,  1859. 

Life  of  William  Penn,  by  George  Ellis,  in  Sparks'  Amer.  Biog.,  vol. 
XX n.,  Boston,  1847. 

History  of  the  United  States,  by  George  Bancroft,  12th  ed.,  Boston,  1846, 
vols.  U.  and  in. 

History  of  Chester,  Pa.,  by  J.  Hill  Martin,  Phila.,  1877. 

Plantation  work,  or  English  Plantations  in  America,  London,  1682. 

Peasant  Life  in  Germany,  by  A.  C.  Johnson,  N.  Y.,  1858. 

History  of  Montgomery  County,  Penna.,  by  Wm.  J.  Buck,  Phila.,  1877. 

Account  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Gabriel  Thomas,  London,  1698. 

Catalogue  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Phila.,  1872. 

A  Further  Account  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Wm.  Penn,  Lon- 
don, 1685. 

The  Penns  and  Peningtons,  by  Maria  Webb,  London,  1867. 

History  of  Philadelphia,  by  Thompson  Westcott,  in  the  the  Sunday  Dis- 
patch. 

Geographische  Beschreibung  Pennsylvania,  by  F.  D.  Pastorius,  Leipzig, 
1700. 

Geschichte  von  Pennsylvania,  by  Ebelung. 

William  Penn,  the  Founder  of  Pennsylvania,  by  John  Stoughton,  D.  D., 
London,  1882. 

History  of  Montgomery  County,  Everts  and  Peck,  Phila.,  1884,  contribu- 
tions by  Wm.  J.  Buck. 

History  of  the  Indian  Walk,  by  Wm.  J.  Buck,  1886. 


II 


MANUSCRIPTS 


Private  Correspondence  in  Penn  MSS.,  vol.  I.     (i.) 

Dreer  Collection  of  Penn  and  Markham  Papers,     (2.) 

Penn-Physick  Correspondence,  vol.  I.     (3.) 

Letter  Book  of  Wm.  Penn,  1699  to  1703.     (4.) 

Official  Correspondence,  Penn  MSS.,  vol.  I. 

Marriage  Record  of  Falls  Monthly  Meeting,  Book  A. 

Births  and  Deaths  of  Falls  Monthly  Meeting. 

Records  of  Middletown  Monthly  Meeting. 

Land  Records  of  Philadelphia. 

Records  of  Surveyor-Generals  Office,  Harrisburg. 

Bucks  County  Court  Records. 

Registry  of  Arrivals  in  Philadelphia,  1682. 

Book  of  Ear  Marks,  Bucks  County  Records. 

James  Claypoole's  letter  Book.      , 

Marriage  Records  of  Phila.  Monthly  Meeting,  Book  A. 

Bucks  County  Land  Records,  vol.  VL 

Marriage  Records  of  Burlington  Monthly  Meeting. 

Records  of  Chester  Monthly  Meeting. 

Minutes  of  Middletown  Monthly  Meeting. 

Records  of  Philadelphia  Monthly  Meeting. 

Penn's  Correspondence  with  James  Harrison. 

Bucks  County  Quarterly  Meeting  Records. 

The  Logan  Manuscripts. 

Warrants  and  Surveys  in  Philadelphia  County,  vols.  I.,  II.,  III.  and  IV. 


12 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

I. — The  Grant  of  Pennsylvania 17 

II. — Markham  despatched  to  Pennsylvania, 27 

III. — Penn's   exertions  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of   his 

Province, 44 

IV. — Penn's  departure  and  arrival  in  America 58 

V. — The  Landing  at  New  Castle,  Upland  and  Philadelphia,  .      66 
VI. — The  first  Assembly. — Liberty  of  Conscience. — Conference 

with  Lord  Baltimore 78 

VII. — Penn's  Correspondence. — Evil  reports  concerning  him,  .      87 
VIII. — Penn's  first  meeting  in  Council  in  Philadelphia. — Friends' 

Meetings, • 96 

IX. — Another  meeting  with  Lord  Baltimore. — Purchases  from 

the  Indians,      102 

X. — More  Indian  Purchases. — Pennsbury. — Further  Accounts 

of  the  Province, 109 

XI. — Exertions  of  Penn  on  the  boundary  question. — Writes  a 

pamphlet  on  the  Province. — Arrival  of  Pastorius,     .    .    124 
XII. — More   Indian  Purchases. — Additional  troubles  respecting 
the  boundaries. — Visits  Umbilicamense. — Selects  a  tract 

for  the  Manor  of  Springfield 134 

XIII. — More  of  Penn's  correspondence. — Presides  at  a  trial  for 

witchcraft 143 

XIV.— The  Welsh   tract.— Letters   to   the     Duke  of  York   and 

others 151 

XV. — Penn's  preparations  for  departure. — Safe  arrival  in  England.  163 
XVI.— Penn  writes  and  has  published  another  account  of  his  Prov- 
ince  173 

XVII. — Opinions  respecting  the  results  of  Penn's  labors  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  his  Colony 181 

XVIII. — The  Society  of  Friends. — Several  matters  about  Penn  and 

Pennsbury 194 


13 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

XIX.— Penn  reinstated  in  his  government. — Resolves  to  return. — 

Proposes  a  union  of  the  Colonies, 202 

XX.— Penn  departs  with  his  family  to  the  Province.— His  arrival 

and  reception  at  Chester  and  Philadelphia, 219 

XXI. — Troubles  resf>ecting  Pirates.— The  Governor  has  a  son  bom 

on  whom  he  bestows  the  Manor  of  Perkasie 234 

XXII. — Penn's  proposals  for  the  moral  improvement  of  the  Negroes 
and  Indians.— Meanness  in  allowing  him  no  compensa- 
tion.—His  abilities  as  a  writer,    246 

XXIII.— Penn  suggests  the  night  watch  in  Philadelphia —Attends 
Haverford  Meeting.— Makes  additional  improvements 

at  Pennsbury 258 

XXIV.— Too  much  the  practice  to  cheat  the  Governor.- Pacifies  a 
troublesome  Indian.— Visits  New  York  with  the  Gov- 
ernors of  Virginia  and  New  Jersey, 268 

XXV.— Important  meeting  at  New  Castle.— Intercession  and  self- 
sacrifice  for  a  condemned  vessel. — Able  reply  to  Colonel 

Quarry 277 

XXVI, — The  Proprietary  officials  given  to  land  speculations. — Courts 
of  Inquiry  established.— Pamphlets  printed  and  circu- 
lated in  Germany  to  promote  emigration 292 

^yXXVII.— A  beautiful  letter  sent  to  the  Countess  of  Bellomont  on  the 
death  of  her  husband. — Additional  treaty  with  the  Sus- 
quehanna Indians.— A  second  cbarge_QL  witchcraft,  >    ^W 
XXVIII. — Penn's  journey  to  the  Susquehanna.— Visits    Maryland, 

Merion  and  Gwynedd. — Retires  to  Pennsbury.     .    .    .    317 
XXIX. — Penn's  advice  sought  in  treating  with  the  Indians. — Attends 
Falls    Meeting. — Has  a    long  account  pending  with 

Thomas  Fairman 324 

XXX. — Efforts  made  in  Parliament  to  deprive  Penn  of  his  Colony, 
— Political  knavery  no  new  thing. — Writes  numerous 

letters  in  defence  of  himself  and  government 333 

XXXI,— Remarkable  industry  of  the  Governor.— Illness  of  Phineas 
Pemberton.— Interesting  address    to  the  Assembly. — 

Notice  of  Joseph  Growdon 339 

XXXIl.—Th?  Assembly  not  harmonious. — A  delegation  of  Indians 
come  to  bid  the  Governor  farewell. — Marriage  in  the 
olden  time,  with  some  account  of  John  Sotcher. — The 

German  purchase 349 

XXXIII.— Philadelphia  incorporated  a  city.— The  Swedish  purchase 
at   Morlatton. — The  Proprietary  makes  additional  pro- 


H 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

vision  for  his  children. — The  new  Charter  of  Privileges. 
— Makes  his  will  at  New  Castle. — Arrives  safely  in  Eng- 
land  363 

XXXIV. — Penn's  troubles  in  England. — How  Evans  became  Deputv 
Governor. — Account  of  Letitia  Penn. — The  Proprie- 
tary no  financier. — Affairs  at  Pennsbury 386 

XXXV. — Divers  opinions  respecting  the  results  of  Penn's  labors  and 
policy,  particularly  in  relation  to  his  last  visit  to  the 
Colony, 405 


WILLIAM    PENN    IN   AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE   GRANT   OF    PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  Government  having  become  indebted  to  Vice- 
Admiral  Sir  William  Penn,  a  distinguished  officer  in 
the  British  Navy,  to  the  amount  of  about  ;{^  16,000, 
including  interest;  his  son,  in  consequence  of  the  long 
delay,  became  desirous  of  winding  up  the  affairs  of  his 
estate,  and  to  have  the  same  settled.  Either  unable  or 
unwilling  to  pay  the  same,  the  latter  conceived  the 
plan  of  asking  in  lieu  thereof  the  grant  of  a  tract  of 
land  in  America,  for  the  purpose  of  more  particularly 
establishing  a  colony.  A  conveyance  was  made 
August  1 6th  (6th  mo.).  i68o,*  to  Edward  Billinge, 
William  Penn,  G.  Laurie,  N.  Lucas,  John  P^ldridge, 
and  Edward  Warner,  of  all  the  territory  of  the  province 
of  West  New  Jersey.  It  was  this,  no  doubt,  that  helped 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  subsequent  great  founder 
to  this  portion  of  the  country,  as  he  first  became 
interested  in  the  same  in  1675. 


*  The  year  then  commenced  with  March  as  the  first  month,  and  the  old  style 
will  be  retained  throughout  this  work. 


15 WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

^,  ..It,  Jjiuiit  have  be*en  about  the  date  of  the  aforesaid 
gi^rt'thatf  htr  nrs*t']prepared  his  proposals  in  a  petition 
to  the  then  reigning  monarch,  Charles  II.  His  Majesty 
referred  the  same  to  the  consideration  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  accompanied  by 
a  draft  for  a  grant  of  a  tract  of  land  for  settling  a  colony 
and  plantation  in  America,  which  he  desires  may  pass 
to  William  Penn  for  the  government  of  that  colony. 
On  November  19th,  the  Secretary  was  authorized  to 
hand  to  the  Attorney-General  for  his  observations  the 
powers  proposed,  and  to  report  whether  there  was  any- 
thing to  object.  The  latter,  on  the  21st,  presented  his 
views  at  some  length  as  to  the  nature,  requirements 
and  conditions  of  the  patent.  The  Committee  met 
again  February  24th,  reading  over  carefully  the  grant 
as  prepared,  and  then  made  a  favorable  report  to  the 
King,  in  which  they  say : 

"  May  it  please  Your  Majesty.  In  Obedience  to 
Your  Majesty's  Orders  signifyed  unto  us  by  the  Earl 
of  Sunderland  on  the  ist  of  June  last.  We  have  pre- 
pared the  Draught  of  a  Charter  constituting  William 
Penn,  Esq.,  Absolute  Proprietary  of  a  Tract  of  Land  in 
America  therein  mentioned,  which  we  humbly  present 
to  Your  Majesty  for  Your  Royal  Approbation,  leaving 
also  the  Naming  of  the  Province  unto  Your  Majesty. 
Which  is  most  humbly  submitted. 

2^/k  Febry.,  idSo-iT 


THE    GRANT    OF    PENNSYLVANIA.  1 9 

We  possess  sufficient  evidence  in  the  aforesaid,  that 
the  King  bestowed  on  the  grant  the  name  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. From  the  beginning  it  required  a  vexatious 
attendance  on  the  part  of  Penn  on  the  Committee,  the 
Chief  Justice,  Attorney-General,  and  agents  of  Lord 
Baltimore,  before  he  could  reach  the  consummation  of 
his  wishes.  At  length,  after  many  delays  and  much 
solicitude,  he  had  the  gratification  of  learning  that 
his  patent  was  prepared,  and  to  which  the  King  affixed 
his  signature,  March  4th,  1681.  This  venerable  docu- 
ment may  be  seen  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State  at  Harrisburg,  written  in  the  old  Plnglish  style, 
every  line  underscored  with  red  ink,  and  the  borders 
gorgeously  ornamented  with  heraldic  devices,  and  at 
the  beginning  a  likeness  of  his  Majesty. 

Penn  must  have  received  this  information  with  great 
satisfaction,  if  we  are  to  judge  his  feelings  as  expressed 
in  a  letter  written  the  next  day  to  his  friend,  Robert 
Turner,  a  merchant  of  Dublin,  very  probably  just  after 
he  had  received  his  charter. 

"  5th  of  1st  mo.,  1 68 1. 
"  Dear  Friend  : — My  true  love  in  the  Lord  salutes 
thee  and  dear  friends  that  love  the  Lord's  precious 
truth  in  those  parts.  Thine  I  have,  and  for  my  business 
here,  know  that  after  many  waitings,  watchings,  solici- 
tudes, and  disputes  in  council,  this  day  my  country 
was  confirmed  to  me  under  the  great  seal  of  England, 
with    large  powers    and   privileges,  by  the    name    of 


20  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Pennsylvania ;  a  name  the  King  zvould  give  it  in  honor 
of  my  father.  I  chose  New  Wales,  being,  as  this,  a 
pretty  hilly  country,  but  Penn  being  Welsh  for  a  head, 
as  Penman  moire  in  Wales,  and  Penrith  in  Cumberland, 
and  Penn  in  Buckinghamshire,  the  highest  land  in 
P2ngland,  called  this  Pennsylvania,  which  is  the  high 
or  head  woodlands  ;  for  I  proposed,  when  the  Secretary, 
a  Welshman,  refused  to  have  it  called  New  Wales, 
Sylvania,  and  they  added  Penn  to  it ;  and  though  I 
much  opposed  it,  and  went  to  the  King  to  have  it 
struck  out  and  altered,  he  said  it  was  past,  and  would 
take  it  upon  him ;  nor  could  twenty  guineas  move 
the  under-secretary  to  vary  the  name ;  for  I  feared  lest 
it  should  be  looked  on  as  a  vanity  in  me,  and  not  as  a 
respect  in  the  King,  as  it  truly  was  to  my  father,  whom 
he  often  mentions  with  praise.  Thou  mayest  communi- 
cate my  grant  to  Friends,  and  expect  shortly  my 
proposals. 

"It  is  a  clear  and  just  thing  and  my  God  that  hath 
given  it  me  through  many  difficulties,  will,  I  believe, 
bless  and  make  it  the  seed  of  a  nation.  I  shall  have 
a  tender  care  to  the  government,  that  it  be  laid  at  first. 
No  more  now,  but  dear  love  in  the  truth.  Thy  true 
friend, 

Wm.  Penn." 

By  said  charter,  William  Penn  is  made  absolute  pro- 
prietary, saving  to  the  King  and  his  successors  the 
sovereignty  of  the  country,  and  due  allegiance  being 


THE    GRANT    OF    PENNSYLVANIA.  21 

required  from  all.  The  grant  was  not  **  in  capita''  but 
in  "  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  only,"  yielding 
and  paying  to  the  King  two  beaver  skins  annually,  to 
be  delivered  at  the  castle  of  Windsor,  and  also  the 
fifth  part  of  all  gold  and  silver  ore  which  shall  be  found 
within  said  limits.  The  proprietary,  with  the  assent 
and  approbation  of  the  freemen  of  the  colony,  was  em- 
powered to  make  all  necessary  laws  not  inconsistent 
with  the  laws  of  England.  The  laws  of  the  province 
were  to  be  transmitted  to  the  privy  council  for  appro- 
bation. Appeals  from  the  judgment  of  the  colonial 
courts  might,  in  certain  cases,  be  taken  to  the  King. 

The  extent  of  this  grant  is  stated  to  comprise  "  all 
that  tract  or  parte  of  land  in  America,  with  all  the  is- 
lands therein  conteyned,  as  the  same  is  bounded  on  the 
East  by  Delaware  River,  from  twelve  miles  distance, 
Northwarde  of  New  Castle  Towne,  unto  the  three  and 
fortieth  degree  of  Northern  latitude  if  the  said  River 
doth  extend  soe  farre  Northwards;  But  if  the  said  River 
shall  not  extend  soe  farre  Northwards ;  then  by  the 
said  River  soe  farre  as  it  doth  extend,  and  from  the 
head  of  the  said  River  the  Eastern  bounds  are  to  be 
determined  by  a  meridian  line,  to  bee  drawn  from  the 
head  of  the  said  River  unto  the  said  three  and  fortieth 
degree,  the  said  lands  to  extend  Westwards  five  de- 
grees in  longitude,  to  be  computed  from  the  said 
Eastern  Bounds,  and  the  said  lands  to  be  bounded  on 
the  North  by  the  beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth 


22  VVM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

degree  of  Northern  latitude,  and  on  the  South  by  a 
circle  drawn  at  twelve  miles  distance  from  New  Castle, 
Northwards  and  Westwards  unto  the  beginning  of  the 
fortieth  degree  of  Northern  latitude ;  and  then  by  a 
straight  line  Westwards  to  the  limitt  of  Longitude 
above  menconed." 

The  fruits  and  commodities  of  the  province  might  be 
imported  into  any  of  the  ports  of  England,  and  not 
into  any  other  port  whatsoever,  but  within  a  year  after 
the  landing  of  the  same  in  England  they  might  be  re- 
sliipped  to  any  other  country,  paying  such  duties  as 
British  subjects  are  bound  to  pay.  Penn  and  his  heirs 
were  to  enjoy  such  customs  on  imports  and  exports  in 
the  province  as  he  or  they  and  the  people  there,  when 
assembled,  may  reasonably  assess,  saving  to  the  King 
and  his  successors  such  impositions  and  custcTms  as  are, 
or  by  act  of  Parliament  shall  be  appointed.  But  the 
King  was  to  levy  no  taxes  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the 
province  without  the  consent  of  the  proprietary  or  as- 
sembly, or  by  act  of  Parliament.  Penn  was  invested 
with  all  the  powers  of  a  "captain-general,"  also  "to  levy 
muster,  and  train  all  sorts  of  men  "  to  make  war  by  sea 
and  land  against  barbarous  nations,  pirates  and  robbers. 

For  the  greater  security  of  his  province,  the  Duke  of 
York  also  executed  a  deed  for  Pennsylvania  to  William 
Penn  for  any  pretensions  or  claims  that  might  be  set 
up  at  any  time  in  the  future,  either  by  himself,  his  heirs, 
successors,  or  others.    It  was  dated  August  20th,  1682, 


THE    GRANT    OF    PENNSVLVANIA.  23 

and  in  which  he  says,  "  Now,  therefore,  this  indenture 
witnesseth,  that  his  said  royal  highness,  out  of  a  special 
regard  to  the  memory  and  many  faithful  and  eminent 
services  heretofore  performed  by  the  said  Sir  William 
Penn  to  his  said  majesty  and  royal  highness,  and  for 
the  better  encouraging  him,  the  said  William  Penn,  to 
proceed  in  cultivating  and  improving  the  said  tract  of 
ground  and  islands  therein  and  thereunto  belonging, 
and  reducing  the  savage  and  barbarous  natives  thereof 
to  civility,  and  for  the  goodwill  which  his  said  royal 
highness  hath  and  bcarcth  to  the  said  William  Penn, 
and  for  other  good  causes  and  considerations  hath  re- 
mised, released,  and  forever  quit  claim."  This  was 
deemed  necessary  on  account  of  its  jurisdiction  having 
been  for  some  time  previously  under  the  governors  of 
New  York. 

Penn  deemed  it  also  prudent  but  it  was  not  ob- 
tained without  some  negotiation  from  the  Duke,  two 
additional  conveyances  or  deeds  of  feoffment  from  him 
on  the  24th  of  the  same  month.  By  one  of  which  he 
conveyed  the  town  of  New  Castle  and  the  country 
lying  within  a  circle  of  twelve  miles  about  it,  and  by 
the  other  all  the  land  on  Delaware  Bay  south  of  said 
circle  to  Cape  Henlopen.  These  now  comprise  the 
State  of  Delaware,  and  were  to  be  held  "  in  free  and 
common  socage."  For  the  first,  he  was  to  pay  to  the 
Duke  the  yearly  rent  of  five  shillings,  and  for  the  sec- 
ond ''one  rose  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel 


24  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

yearly,  if  demanded,"  together  with  the  moiety  of  all 
the  rents  and  profits  thereof  However,  the  Duke  did 
not  obtain  for  himself  a  regular  conveyance  for  the 
same  from  his  brother,  the  King,  till  March  22d,  1683. 
The  leading  object  in  this  was  to  secure  these  terri- 
tories from  the  claim  entered  upon  by  Lord  Baltimore, 
and  which  led  to  so  long  and  expensive  a  controversy 
afterwards.  This  section  had  been  successively  held 
by  the  Swedes  and  Dutch,  and  latterly  by  the  govern- 
ment of  New  York  under  the  Duke. 

Th  •  Royal  Charter,  in  its  beginning,  thus  alludes  to 
Penn's  petition  for  the  grant :  "Whereas  our  trusty  and 
well-beloved  subject,  William  Penn,  Esquire,  son  and 
heir  of  Sir  William  Penn,  out  of  a  commendable  de- 
sire to  enlarge  our  British  Empire,  and  promote  such 
useful  commodities  as  may  be  of  benefit  to  us  and  our 
dominions,  as  also  to  reduce  the  savage  natives  by  just 
and  gentle  manners  to  the  love  of  civil  society  and 
Christian  religion,  hath  humbly  besought  leave  of  us, 
to  transport  an  ample  colony  into  a  certain  country, 
hereinafter  described,  in  the  parts  of  America,  not  yet 
cultivated  and  planted,  and  hath  likewise  so  humbly 
besought  our  royal  Majesty  to  give,  grant,  and  confirm 
all  the  said  country,  with  certain  privileges  and  juris- 
dictions requisite  for  the  good  government  and  safety  of 
the  said  country  and  colony,  to  him,  and  his  heirs 
forever." 

We  observe  in  the  aforesaid  a  positive  mention,  if  not 


THE    GRANT    OF    PENNSYLVANIA.  2$ 

a  promise  faithfully  made,  by  the  Proprietary,  that  "out 
of  a  commendable  desire,"  among  other  matters,  "to 
reduce  the  savage  natives  by  just  and  gentle  manners  to 
the  love  of  civil  society  and  Christian  religion,"  as  de- 
serving some  consideration  hereafter.  As  respects  the 
original  proposals,  John  Stoughton  (IVm.  Penn,  the 
Founder,-^.  165)  gives  us  the  following  information: 
"  The  petition  existed,  but  in  a  mutilated  state,  in  1735, 
when  it  was  adduced  in  evidence  during  a  trial  in  ref- 
erence to  the  Penn  possessions."  No  copy  was  dis- 
covered among  the  recently-acquired  Penn  manuscripts 
in  possession  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  its  disappearance  is  therefore  to  be  regretted. 

It  was  the  fortune  of  William  Penn  to  have  warm 
friends  in  Charles  II.  and  his  brother  James,  Duke  of 
York.  The  former  knighted  his  father  for  his  distin- 
guished services,  and  always  held  his  memory  in  last- 
ing esteem,  as  we  also  know  by  his  naming  this  noble 
commonwealth  after  him  when  he  had  been  consigned 
to  the  tomb  upwards  of  ten  years.  For  the  Stuarts 
few  good  words  are  found,  and  we  hesitate  for  these 
actions  in  the  life  of  Penn,  whether  justice  has  been 
done  them.  In  speaking  of  this  family,  Bancroft  says 
that  "  North  America  acquired  its  British  colonies  dur- 
ing their  rule,  and  towiiS,  rivers,  headlands,  and  even 
states,  bear  their  names.  The  pacific  disposition  of 
James  I.  promoted  the  settlement  of  Virginia;  a 
timely  neglect  fostered  New  England ;    the  favoritism 


26  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

of  Charles  I.  opened  the  way  for  religious  liberty  in 
Maryland;  Rhode  Island  long  cherished  the  charter 
which  its  importunity  won  from  Charles  II. ;  the  hon- 
est friendship  of  James  II.  favored  the  grants  which 
gave  libertfes  to  Pennsylvania,  and  extended  them  to 
Delaware;  the  crimes  of  the  dynasty  banished  to  our 
country  men  of  learning,  virtue,  and  fortitude." 


CHAPTER  II. 

MARKHAM  DESPATCHED  TO  PENNSYLVANIA. 

A  MONTH  had  nearly  elapsed  from  the  signing  of 
the  charter,  when  the  King  issued  a  declaration  of  the 
fact  in  the  following  address  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Pennsylvania,  which,  it  would  appear,  was  to  prepare 
them  for  the  coming  of  the  Proprietary,  and  the  re- 
ception of  his  government: — 

"  Charles  R. — Whereas  his  majesty,  in  consideration 
of  the  great  merit  and  faithful  services  of  Sir  William 
Penn,  deceased,  and  for  divers  other  good  causes  him 
thereunto  moving,  hath  been  graciously  pleased,  by 
letters-patent  bearing  date  the  4th  day  of  March  last 
past,  to  give  and  grant  unto  William  Penn,  Esq.,  son 
and  heir  of  the  said  Sir  William  Penn,  all  that  tract," 
[etc.,  as  described  in  the  charter.] 

"  His  majesty  doth,  therefore,  hereby  publish  and 
declare  his  royal  will  and  pleasure,  that  all  persons 
settled  or  inhabiting  within  the  limits  of  said  province, 
do  yield  all  due  obedience  to  the  said  William  Penn  ^ 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  as  absolute  proprietaries  and 
governors  thereof,  as   also  to  the  deputies,  agents,  or 


28  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

lieutenants,  lawfully   commissioned  by  him  or  them, 

according  to  the  powers  and  authorities  granted  by  the 

said  letters-patent,  wherewith  his  majesty  expects  and 

requires  a  ready  compliance  from  all  persons    whom  it 

may  concern,  as  they  tender  his  majestie's  displeasure. 

Given  at  Court,  etc.,  2d  April,  thirty -third  year  of 

reign,  By  his  majesty's  command. 

Conway." 

About  this  time  Penn  had  decided  to  appoint  his 
cousin,  William  Markham,  of  London,  his  Deputy- 
Governor,  to  proceed  in  a  few  days  to  the  new  prov- 
ince and  assume  the  government,  and  also  be  prepared 
for  his  coming  as  soon  as  he  could  make  all  the  re- 
quisite arrangements  in  his  business  affairs  to  take 
charge  of  those  duties.  In  the  selection  of  his  kins- 
man for  so  important  a  post  he  no  doubt  made  an  ex- 
cellent choice,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  in  the  several 
biographies  of  Penn,  nothing  appears  rel^five  to  so 
conspicuous  a  character.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Ad- 
miral's sister,  and  we  infer  from  the  Penn  manuscripts 
that  his  father's  name  was  also  William,  and  that  he  had 
died  some  time  previous.  Some  authorities  state  that 
he  was  a  captain,  and  others  a  colonel  in  the  British 
Army;  we  have  also  noticed  in  some  documents  his 
being  called  "  gentleman,"  and  he  is  mentioned  in  the 
Admiral's  will,  which  bears  date  January  20th,  1669,  as 
his  "nephew,"  at  which  time  he  must  have  been  quite 
young. 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  29 

Penn  also  prepared  an  address  a  few  days  after,  which 
we  give  as  copied  verbatim  from  the  original : 

"For  the  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania.  To  be  read 
by  my  Deputy,"  and  is  indorsed,  "  The  Proprietor's 
Letter  to  ye  Inhabitants  of  Pennsilvania." 

"  My  Friends: — I  wish  you  all  happiness  here  & 
hereafter.  Thes  are  to  lett  you  know  that  it  hath 
pleased  god  in  his  providence  to  cast  you  within  my 
Lott  &  care.  It  is  a  business  yt  though  I  never 
undertook  before,  yet  god  has  given  me  an  under- 
standing of  my  Duty  &  an  honest  minde  to  doe  it 
uprightly.  I  hope  you  will  not  be  troubled  at  ye 
chainge  &  the  King's  choice,  for  you  are  now  fixt,  at 
ye  mercy  of  no  Governour  yt  comes  to  make  his  for- 
tune great,  you  shall  be  govern'd  by  laws  of  yr  own 
making,  &  live  a  free  and  if  you  will  a  Sober  &  in- 
dustrious People.  I  shall  not  usurp  the  right  of  any, 
or  oppress  his  jjerson.  God  has  furnisht  me  with  a 
Better  resolution,  &  has  given  me  his  grace  to  keep  it. 
In  short  wt  ever  sober  &  free  men  can  reasonably  de- 
sire for  ye  security  &  improvement  of  their  own  happi- 
ness, I  shall  heartily  comply  with,  &  in  five  months 
resolve  if  it  pleas  god  to  sec  you.  In  ye  mean  time, 
pray  submitt  to  ye  commands  of  my  Deputy,  so  farr 
as  they  are  consistant  with  ye  law,  &  pay  him  thos 
dues  (yt  formerly  you  paid  to  ye  order  of  ye  Govern- 
ours  of  New  York)   for  my  use  &  benefitt,  &  so    I 


30  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

beseech  god  to  divert  you  in  ye  way  of  righteousness 
&  therein  prosper  you  &  yr  children  after  you,  I  am 
your  true  Frd. 

Wm.  Penn. 

Lmidon,  8th  of  ye  mo7ith  caWd  Aprill,  idSiT    (2.*) 

The  necessary  arrangements  having  been  made  with 
Mark  ham  for  his  speedy  departure,  the  Proprietary 
proceeded  forthwith  to  give  him  such  instructions  as 
the  short  interval  would  allow  since  he  came  in 
possession  of  the  charter.  For  a  copy  of  his  appoint- 
ment we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Hazard,  who  in  his 
Annals  says  he  unexpectedly  found  the  original  in  the 
Secretary  of  State's  office  at  Boston,  in  a  volume 
marked  "Colonial." 

"The  commission  given  by  William  Penn,  governor 
and  proprietor  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  his 
cousin,  William  Markham,  to  be  deputy  governor  for 
him,  of  the  aforesaid  province.  At  Westminster,  this 
lOth  of  2d  mo.  168 1. 

"  Whereas  the  king  hath  graciously,  upon  divers  good 
considerations,  to  settle  upon  me  and  my  heirs  forever, 
by  his  letters -patent,  under  the  great  seal  of  P2ngland, 
dated  the  4th  of  March  last,  a  tract  of  land  in  America, 
by  the  name  of  Pennsylvania,  lying  and  bounded  as 
in  the  said  letters-patent  is  particularly  expressed,  with 


*  These  figures  have  reference  to  our  manuscript  authorities  mentioned  at  the 
beginning. 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  3 1 

ample  powers  and  authorities  for  the  well-governing 
of  the  same,  to  be  exercised  by  me  or  my  deputy.  Out 
of  the  special  regard  that  I  have  to  the  care  and  fidelity 
of  my  cousin  William  Markham,  I  do  hereby  appoint 
him  my  deputy,  and  fully  authorize  him  in  my  stead  and 
for  my  behoof,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  province, 
to  act  and  perform  what  may  be  fully  needful  to  the 
peace  and  safety  thereof,  till  I  myself  shall  arrive,  or 
he  shall  receive  further  orders ;  that  is  to  say,  he  has 
hereby  power,  To  call  a  council,"  etc.  Is  also  directed 
to  read  a  letter  and  the  King's  declaration  to  the  in- 
habitants, settle  boundaries  with  neighbors,  erect  courts, 
appoint  officers,  call  on  the  inhabitants  to  suppress 
tumults,  and  generally  do  all  but  calling  an  assembly 
to  make  laws.  Witnesses  to  the  .same  are  Henry  West 
and  John  West. 

Hazard  appears  to  express  some  surprise  that  noth- 
ing is  therein  mentioned  in  relation  to  the  Indians,  but 
this  will  be  found  in  another  paper  to  Markham,  dated 
the  1 8th  of  8th  month  following,  of  which  he  could 
have  had  no  knowledge. 

Markham  at  this  time  has  been  represented  as  being 
scarcely  of  age,  but  we  question  this,  for  he  was  a 
married  man,  and,  like  Penn  in  his  first  voyage,  thought 
it  prudent  to  leave  his  partner  behind  till  he  had  at 
least  got  comfortably  fixed  in  the  thinly-settled  coun- 
try whither  he  was  going.  Francis  Richardson  ac- 
companied him,  but  the  name  of  the  vessel    he  em- 


32  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

barked  on  is  not  known,  which  would  indicate  that 
there  could  have  been  at  most  but  few  passengers  on 
board.  He  arrived  at  New  York  June  15th,  with  all 
the  necessary  papers  and  instructions  from  the  King, 
the  Duke,  the  Proprietary,  his  kinsman,  as  well  as  of 
others,  so  as  to  facilitate  and  open  the  way  for  the 
mission  on  which  he  had  been  sent. 

Before  he  left  New  York,  he  received  from  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor there  an  order  dated  June  21st,  ad- 
dressed "  To  the  justices  of  the  peace,  magistrates,  and 
other  officers  within  the  bounds  and  limits  mentioned 
now  called  Pennsylvania,"  and  which  had  hitherto 
been  under  his  jurisdiction,  be  now  surrendered.  It  is 
very  probable  that  Markham  proceeded  overland,  en- 
tering the  newly-acquired  territory  at  the  Falls,  now  op- 
posite Trenton.  Near  the  beginning  of  October,  he  was 
at  Passyunk,  now  near  the  south-western  portion  of  the 
built-up  part  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  In  evidence 
from  an  original  document  we  copy  the  following  : 

"  Whereas,  the  selling  of  Strong  Lickers  was  pro- 
hibited in  Pensilvania,  and  not  att  Newcastell  and  ther 
beeing  Rom  and  making  themselves  more  debeiched 
then  before  (in  spite  of  this  prohibition).  Therefore 
we,  whouse  Name  are  heare  under  written  doe  desire 
that  the  prohibition  may  be  taken  off  and  Rome  and 
Strong  Lickers  may  be  sould  (in  the  fore  said  Prov- 
ince) as  formerly,  untill  it  be  prohibited  in  Newcastell 
and  in  that  Governmt  of  Deleware. 


MARK  HAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  ^^ 

Pesienck  in  Pensilvania,  8th  Octobr,  1681. 

To  the  Govener  and  Counsell  of  Pennsylvania. 

Nanne  Seka 
Keka  Rappan 

ToNCi    GORAS 

EsPAN  Appe  "  (2.) 

Although  but  little  over  seven  months  had  passed 
since  the  granting  of  the  charter,  and  Mark  ham  had 
not  been  four  months  in  the  country,  being  addressed 
•'  To  the  Governer  and  Counsel!  of  Pensilvania,"  it 
would  imply  that  in  this  brief  time  he  must  have  been 
pretty  active,  to  cause  such  a  missive  in  this  early  at- 
tempt at  suppressing  the  liquor  traffic  with  the  Indians. 
The  first  signature  for  "  his  marke,"  has  a  representa- 
tion of  a  strung  bow,  the  second  a  tortoise,  the  third  a 
turkey  and  the  last  a  rattlesnake,  all  pretty  well  drawn. 

At  the  second  session  of  the  Court,  held  at  Upland, 
November  30th,  as  we  learn  from  the  records :  "  Wil- 
liam Markham,  Esq.,  governor  and  president,"  was 
present,  and  no  doubt  remained  there  over  winter.  On 
December  7th,  he  dated  from  here  two  interesting  let- 
ters, from  which  we  give  space  for  extracts.  The  first 
was  addressed  to  his  wife,  and  that  in  the  next  para- 
graph to  a  friend.  He  appears  to  have  been  delighted 
with  the  country,  and  must  have  impressed  the  readers 
of  that  day  with  considerable  novelty. 

*'  It  is  a  very  fine  Country,  if  it   were   not  so   over- 
grown with  woods ;  and  very  healthy.     Here   people 
3 


34  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

live  to  be  above  lOO  years  of  age.  Provision  of  all 
sorts  are  indifferent  plentiful :  Venison  especially.  I 
have  seen  four  Bucks  bought  for  less  than  5s.,  the 
Indians  killing  them  only  for  their  skins.  In  the  Win- 
ter, there  is  mighty  plenty  of  Wild  Fowl  of  all  sorts ; 
Partridges  I  am  cloyd  with;  we  catch  them  by  hun- 
dreds at  a  time.  In  the  fall  of  the  Leaf,  or  after  Har- 
vest, here  are  abundance  of  wild  Turkeys,  which  are 
mighty  easie  to  be  shot;  Duck,  Mallard,  Geese  and 
Swans  in  abundance  wild ;  Fish  are  in  great  plenty. 
In  short,  if  a  Country  Life  be  liked  by  any,  it  might 
be  here.  That  which  is  most  scarce  is  Mutton  and 
Beef,  because  you  must  kill  it  yourself,  I  mean  of  your 
own.  What  Beef  is  kill'd,  is  in  October,  or  there 
abouts,  and  salted  up  for  the  whole  year :  last  October 
I  kill'd  two  very  fat  Bullocks." 

"I  will  now  give  you  an  Account  of  the  Country; 
It  is  in  a  mighty  good  Air,  and  very  healthy.  Here 
are  abundance  of  good  Fruits  ;  all  sorts  of  Apples, 
Cherries,  Pears,  good  Plumbs  ;  but  I  knew  not  what 
to  call  them  ;  Peaches  as  good  as  any  in  the  World ; 
some  they  feed  their  hoggs  with,  and  some  they  distill 
and  make  a  sort  of  Brandy:  Abundance  of  Mull- 
berrys.  The  Hoggs  eat  the  Chesnuts  as  they  do  the 
Acorns ;  abundance  of  Walnuts  ;  Grapes  grow  wild  in 
the  Woods,  and  indifferent  good  :  they  might  be  made 
very  good ;  Mellons  both  Mus  and  Water  as  good  as 
can  be;   and  several   others  I  cannot  think   of     P'ish 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  35 

good  store;  but  we  are  afraid  to  put  out  a  Net  lest  a 
Sturgeon  gets  in  and  breaks  it,  for  we  have  innumer- 
able of  them,  that  they  leap  into  the  Boats  very  often. 
Beasts  we  have  of  all  kinds,  and  Tame  Fowl.  Abun- 
dance of  Dear :  the  Indians  kill  them  only  for  their 
skins,  and  leave  the  Flesh  in  the  Woods.  We  have 
very  good  Horses,  and  the  Men  ride  madly  on  them  : 
they  make  nothing  of  riding  80  miles  of  a  Day ;  and 
when  they  get  to  their  Journeys  end,  turn  the  Horses 
into  the  Field :  they  never  Shoo  them." 

While  at  Upland  about  this  time  he  received  from 
England  the  following  letter,  which  may  have  been  the 
first  from  there  since  his  departure.  It  is  given  ver- 
batim from  the  original,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  it  has  not  been  previously  published. 

"London,  i8th  8th  mo.,  1681. 
"  Cosen  Markham  : — My  sincere  love  salutes  thee, 
wishing  thy  prosperity  every  way,  with  this  comes  In- 
.structions  and  concessions  with  some  Company.  1 
hope  thou  hast  made  Convenient  provisions  for  them. 
I  have  sent  my  Cosen  William  Crispin  to  be  thy  Assis- 
tant, as  by  Commission  will  appear,  his  skill,  exper- 
ience, industry  and  integrity  are  well  known  to  me 
and  particularly  in  Court  keeping,  etc.  So  yt  is  my 
will  and  pleasure,  that  he  be  as  Chief  Justice  to  keep 
ye  Seal  ye  Courts  and  Sessions ;  and  he  shall  be  ac- 
countable to  me  for  it.  the  profitts  redounting  are  to 
his  proper  behoof  he  will  show  thee  my  Instructions 


36  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

wch  will  guide  you  all  in  ye  business,  ye  rest  is  Left  to 
your  discretion ;  yt  is,  to  thee,  thy  two  Assistants  and 
ye  Council. 

How  I  shall  tell  thee,  that  if  thy  Inclinations  rather 
run  to  a  sea  life,  I  shall  put  thee  in  Command  of  a 
vessel  to  carry  People  and  goods  betwixt  this  country 
and  that,  wch  if  thou  chusest  it  come  wth  all  ye  speed 
thou  canst,  yt  thou  mayst  be  here  before  I  goe  and 
command  a  vessel  backwards,  the  proffit  is  more,  I 
think  the  credit  not  less,  but  this  is  left  to  yee  to  come 
or  stay  till  I  come  thither,  pray  be  very  respectful  to 
my  Cosen  Crispen,  he  is  a  man  my  father  had  great 
confidence  in  and  value  for,  also  Strive  to  give  Content 
to  ye  Planters  and  wth  meek  and  sweetness,  mixt  wth 
Authority  carry  it  So  as  thou  mayst  honour  me  as 
well  as  thyselfe,  and  I  do  hereby  promess  thee,  I  will 
effectually  answer  it  to  thee  and  thyn.  give  the  In- 
closed in  S.weeds,  to  ye  Sweed's  Priests  to  read  to  ye 
Sweeds  ;  it  comes  from  Svveeds  embassador's  in  Eng- 
land, ye  Ld  Liembergh,  whos  lady  is  lately  dead,  also 
myn  to  ye  Natives  and  the  Inhabitants,  and  be  tender 
of  my  creditt  wth  all  watching  to  prevent  all  fals  Storys, 
and  inculcate  all  the  honest  and  advantageous  things 
on  my  behalf  yt  may  be,  in  wch  be  diligent,  I  can  say 
no  more,  but  wish  you  all  prosperity  in  ye  fear  of  ye 
lord,  to  whom  I  committ  you  all,  and  rest 

Thy  true  Frd  and  Affect  Kinsman, 

Wm.  Penn." 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHEr3    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  3/ 

"  I  mention  ye  ship  because  it  was  thy  motion  to 
me."  (2.) 

With  the  above  came  another  letter,  to  be  communi- 
cated to  the  Indians.  It  is  too  long  for  us  to  give  en- 
tire, and  from  the  interest  it  possesses  omit  a  portion 
with  reluctance.  How  much  it  is  imbued  with  the 
benevolent  spirit  of  the  great  Founder,  and  character- 
istic of  the  honorable  motives  which  actuated  him  in 
his  dealings  with  them  ! 

"London,  i8th  of  8th  mo.,  1681. 
"  My  Friends  : — There  is  one  great  God  and  power 
that  hath  made  the  world  and  all  things  therein,  to 
whom  you  and  I,  and  all  people  owe  their  being  and 
well-being,  and  to  whom  you  and  I  must  one  day  give 
an  account  for  all  that  we  do  in  the  world ;  this  great 
God  hath  written  his  law  in  our  hearts,  by  which  we 
are  taught  and  commanded  to  love  and  help,  and  to 
do  good  to  one  another,  and  not  to  do  harm  and  mis- 
chief one  to  another.  Now  this  great  God  hath  been 
pleased  to  make  me  concerned  in  your  parts  of  the 
world,  and  the  King  of  the  country  where  I  live  hath 
given  into  me  a  great  province,  but  I  do  desire  to  enjoy 
it  with  your  love  and  consent,  that  we  may  always 
live  together  as  neighbors  and  good  friends,  else  what 
would  the  great  God  say  to  us,  who  hath  made  us  not 
to  devour  and  destroy  one  another,  but  live  soberly 
and  kindly  together   in  the  world?     I   shall  shortly 


38  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

come  to  you  myself,  at  what  time  we  may  more 
largely  and  freely  confer  and  discourse  of  these  matters. 
In  the  meantime,  I  have  sent  my  commissioners  to 
treat  with  you  about  land,  and  a  firm  league  of  peace. 
Let  me  desire  you  to  be  kind  to  them  and  the  people, 
and  receive  these  presents  and  tokens  which  I  have 
sent  to  you,  as  a  testimony  of  my  good  will  to  you, 
and  my  resolution  to  live  justly,  peaceably  and  friendly 
with  you. 

I  am  your  loving  friend, 

William  Penn." 

Markham  had  not  left  England  three  months  before 
Penn  appointed  three  Commissioners,  who  were  to 
proceed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  with  whom  they  were  to 
act  in  settling  the  colony.  The  original  Instructions 
to  the  aforesaid  are  now  in  possession  of  the  Historical 
Society,  who  have  lately  had  it  framed.  It  was  found 
amongst  the  Hamilton  papers  at  the  Woodlands.  The 
last  two  lines  and  signature  are  in  the  handwriting  of 
the  Proprietary.  As  they  are  of  some  length,  I  will 
avail  myself  only  of  that  portion  that  relates  to  the 
Indians.  They  are  dated  "30th  of  7  ber,  168 1," 
and  addressed  "  To  my  Trusty  and  loving  Friends, 
William  Crispin,  John  Bezar  and  Nathaniel  Allen,  my 
Commissioners  for  the  settling  of  the  present  Colony 
this  year  transported  into  ye  said  Province." 

"  Be  tender  of  offending  the  Indians,  and  harken  by 
honest  Spyes,  if  you  can  hear  yt  anybody  inveigles  ye 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  39 

Indians  not  to  sell,  or  to  stand  off,  and  raise  the  valine 
upon  you.  You  cannot  want  those  yt  will  inform  you, 
but  to  sofften  them  to  mee  and  the  people,  let  them 
know  yt  you  are  come  to  sit  down  Lovingly  among 
them.  Let  my  Letter  and  Conditions  with  my  Pur- 
chasers about  just  dealing  with  them  be  read  in  their 
Tongue,  that  they  may  see  wee  have  their  good  in  our 
eye,  equall  with  our  own  Interest,  and  after  reading  my 
Letter  and  ye  said  Conditions,  then  present  their 
Kings  with  what  I  send  them,  and  make  a  Friendshipp 
with  them  according  to  those  Conditions,  wh  carefully 
observe,  and  get  them  to  comply  with  you  ;  be  Grave 
they  love  not  to  be  smiled  on.  From  time  to  time  in 
my  Name  and  for  my  use  buy  Land  of  them,  where 
any  justly  pretend,  for  they  will  sell  one  another's,  if 
you  be  not  Carefull,  that  such  as  buy  and  come  after 
these  Adventurers  may  have  Land  ready,  but  by  no 
means  sell  any  Land  till  I  come,  allow  no  old  Patents, 
they  have  forfeited  them  by  not  planting  according  to 
the  Law  of  the  place  and  it  cost  mee  too  dear  to  allow 
such  old  Storyes,  rather  than  fail  offer  them  the  Patent 
Charge,  and  where  Survey'd  the  Sui-vey  money,  but 
this  is  understood  only  of  unplanted  places  only." 

By  two  deeds,  dated  July  15th  and  August  ist, 
1682,  Markham  purchased  for  Penn  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  from  the  Indians,  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Delaware  river,  for  some  distance  above  and  be- 
low the  Falls.    This  business,  it  appears,  was  concluded 


40  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

at  the  house  of  Capt  Lasse  Cock.  The  first  was 
granted  by  twelve  "  Indyane  Sachamakers,"  as  they  are 
therein  called.  In  the  other,  mention  is  made  of  "ye 
land  called  Soepassincks,  and  ye  island  of  ye  same 
name."  Not  long  after,  this  constituted  Pennsbury 
Manor,  comprising  6558  acres,  and  on  which  Penn  had 
his  mansion  erected,  and  where  he  dwelt  for  a  consider- 
able time  while  in  this  country.  Both  these  purchases 
lay  wholly  within  the  limits  of  Bucks  County,  which 
was  not  established  till  in  the  following  year.  These 
deeds  may  be  seen  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Archives. 

Capt.  Thomas  Holme,  a  resident  of  Waterford,  Ire- 
land, was  commissioned  by  Penn  Surveyor-General  of 
Pennsylvania,  April  i8th,  1682.  He  was  to  survey 
the  whole  of  the  province,  for  which  purpose  he  reposed 
"special  confidence"  in  his  "integrity  and  ability." 
He  embarked  on  the  ship  Amity,  which  left  the 
Downs  on  the  23d,  for  America.  He  brought  with 
him  four  children,  John  Claypoole,  an  assistant,  and 
Silas  Crispin,  afterwards  his  son-in-law.  Penn  confided 
to  Capt.  Holme  another  letter  to  the  Indians,  which 
he  read  to  them  through  an  interpreter.  A  fac-simile 
of  the  original  is  framed  at  the  Historical  Society,  pre- 
sented by  the  late  Benjamin  Ferris,  of  Wilmington,  in 
1842.     The  following  is  copied  from  the  same: 

"  The  great  God,  who  is  the  power  and  wisdom  that 
made  you  and  me,  incline  your  hearts  to  righteousness, 


MARKHAM    DESPATCHED    TO    PENNSYLVANIA.  4 1 

love,  and  peace.  This  I  send  to  assure  you  of  my 
love,  and  to  desire  your  love  to  my  friends,  and  when 
the  great  God  brings  me  among  you,  I  intend  to  order 
all  things  in  such  a  manner  that  we  may  all  live  in 
love  and  peace  one  with  another,  which  I  hope  the 
great  God  will  incline  both  me  and  you  to  do.  I  seek 
nothing  but  the  honour  of  His  name,  and  that  we,  who 
are  His  workmanship,  may  do  that  which  is  well 
pleasing  to  Him.  The  man  which  delivers  this  unto 
you  is  my  special  friend,  sober,  wise,  and  loving ;  you 
may  believe  him.  I  have  already  taken  care  that  none 
of  my  people  wrong  you,  by  good  laws  I  have  pro- 
vided for  that  purpose;  nor  will  I  ever  allow  any  of 
my  people  to  sell  rum,  to  make  your  people  drunk.  If 
any  thing  should  be  out  of  order,  expect,  when  I  come, 
it  shall  be  mended,  and  I  will  bring  you  some  things 
of  our  country  that  are  useful  and  pleasing  to  you. 
So  I  rest  in  the  love  of  our  God  that  made  us. 
I  am  your  loving  friend, 

William  Penn. 
England,  21st  of  Second  month,  1682. 

"  I  read  this  to  the  Indians  by  an  interpreter,  the 
Sixth  month,  i682. — Thomas  Holme." 

It  has  been  supposed  that  this  was  done  at  Shacka- 
maxon,  and  a  late  discovery  of  a  bill  of  charges  made 
by  Thomas  Fairman  against  William  Penn,  for  1682, 
states,  "  To  lodging  Capt.  Holme,  his  two  sons  and 


42  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

two  daughters,  with  their  and  his  other  friends'  accom- 
modations in  the  Proprietor's  service,  £s^-"  This 
clearly  establishes  the  fact  at  least  that  he  resided  for  a 
time  there.  He  has  also  a  bill  of  £^,  for  horse  hire 
for  him  and  Markham  and  accompanying  them  to 
"  Piahe  Wickon,"  most  probably  as  a  guide.  The 
Friends,  we  know  by  the  Abington  Records,  held  a 
meeting  for  worship  at  Fairman's  house  as  early  as 
Fourth  month  of  this  year.  We  thus  find  it  a  place  of 
note  several  months  before  Penn's  arrival. 

Before  we  close  this  chapter,  it  may  be  worth  while 
to  state  a  few  additional  matters  relative  to  this  early 
period  of  the  colony.  In  a  letter  sent  from  England, 
under  date  of  30th  of  9th  month,  168 1,  the  writer 
mentions  that  "  Ships  come  pretty  often  from  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  or  Maryland,  by  one  of  which  ways  I 
believe,  thou  mayest  send  almost  every  month  in  the 
summer."  This  shows  his  opinion  that  communication 
between  the  two  countries  was  now  becoming  more 
and  more  frequent. 

The  Swedes  at  this  time  had  erected  three  houses  of 
worship ;  one  at  Upland  or  Chester,  one  at  Wicacoe, 
and  one  at  Tinecum.  The  Friends  held  meetings  at 
Upland,  Shackamaxon,  and  at  the  Falls  of  Delaware. 
Ellis,  in  his  Life  of  Penn,  estimates  the  population  of 
the  Dutch,  Swedes,  and  English  residing  within  the 
patent  on  the  arrival  of  Markham,  at  about  three 
thousand.     No  mean  number  for  the  commencement 


MARKHAM  DESPATCHED  TO  AMERICA.  43 

of  a  colony.  Dixon  compliments  his  Deputy-Gover- 
nor as  "an  excellent  choice.  Bold,  resolute,  devoted  to 
the  proprietor,"  and  that  "  he  set  about  his  work  with 
equal  zeal  and  discretion." 


44  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  III. 
penn's  exertions  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity 

OF    HIS    province. 

As  soon  as  he  had  received  the  grant  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Penn  set  himself  earnestly  at  work  to  carry  out 
his  plans  and  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  colony, 
which  he  was  fully  aware  stood  in  need  of  fostering 
hands.  Amongst  the  means  adopted  was  to  secure  all 
the  information  he  possibly  could  relating  to  the  newly- 
acquired  territory,  from  which  he  prepared  a  description, 
and  had  it  published  in  a  folio  pamphlet  of  ten  pages. 
We  give  its  title  followed  by  several  extracts  : 

"  Some  Account  of  the  Province  of  Pennsilvania 
in  America ;  lately  granted  under  the  Great  'Seal  of 
England  to  William  Penn,  &c.  Together  with  Privi- 
leges and  Powers  necessary  to  the  well-governing 
thereof  Made  publick  for  the  Information  of  such  as 
are  or  may  be  disposed  to  Transport  themselves  or 
servants  into  those  Parts.  London  :  Printed  and  sold 
by  Benjamin  Clark  Bookseller  in  George-Yard,  Lom- 
bard Street,  i68i. 

"  Since  (by  the  good  providence  of  God)  a  country 
in  America  is  fallen  to  my  lot,  I  thought  it  not  less 


PENN  S  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  45 

my  duty  than  my  honest  interest  to  give  some  publick 
notice  of  it  to  the  world  ;  that  those  of  our  own,  or 
other  nations,  that  are  inclined  to  transport  themselves 
or  families  beyond  the  seas,  may  find  another  country 
added  to  their  choice,  that  if  they  shall  happen  to  like 
the  places,  conditions  and  constitutions  (so  far  as  the 
present  infancy  of  things  will  allow  us  any  prospect) 
they  may,  if  they  please,  fix  with  me  in  the  province 
hereafter  described.  But  before  I  come  to  treat  of  my 
particular  concernment,  I  shall  take  leave  to  say  some- 
thing of  the  benefit  of  plantations  or  colonies  in 
general,  to  obviate  a  common  objection.  Colonies 
then  are  the  seeds  of  nations  begun  and  nourished  by 
the  care  of  wise  and  populous  countries ;  as  conceiv- 
ing them  best  for  the  increase  of  humane  stock,  and 
beneficial  for  commerce. 

"  Of  old  time  the  nobility  and  gentry  spent  their 
estates  in  the  country,  and  that  kept  the  people  in  it ; 
and  their  servants  married  and  sate  at  easie  rents  under 
their  masters'  favour,  which  peopled  the  place  ;  now 
the  great  men  (too  much  loving  the  town,  and  resort- 
ing to  London)  draw  many  people  thither  to  attend 
them,  who  either  don't  marry;  or  if  they  do,  they  pine 
away  their  small  gains  in  some  petty  shop ;  for  their 
are  so  many,  they  prey  upon  one  another.  The 
country  being  thus  neglected,  and  no  due  balance 
kept  between  trade  and  husbandry,  city  and  country, 
the  poor  countryman  takes  double  toil,  and  cannot  (for 


46  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

want  of  hands)  dress  and  manure  his  lands  to  the  ad- 
vantage it  formerly  yielded  him,  yet  must  he  pay  the 
old  rents,  which  occasions  servants,  and  such  children 
as  go  not  to  trades,  to  continue  single,  at  least  all  their 
youthful  time ;  which  also  obstructs  the  increase  of 
our  people. 

"The  decay  of  some  of  our  country  manufacturers 
(where  no  provision  is  made  to  supply  the  people  with 
a  new  way  of  living)  causes  the  more  industrious  to  go 
abroad  to  seek  their  bread  in  other  countries,  and  gives 
the  lazy  an  occasion  to  loiter  and  beg  or  do  worse,  by 
which  means  the  land  swarms  with  beggars :  formerly 
it  'twas  rare  to  find  any  asking  alms  but  the  maimed,  or 
blind,  or  very  aged ;  now  thousands  of  both  sexes  run 
up  and  down,  both  city  and  country,  that  are  sound 
and  youthful,  and  able  to  work,  with  false  pretences 
and  certificates ;  nor  is  there  any  care  taken  to  employ 
or  deter  such  vagrants,  which  weakens  the  country,  as 
to  people  and  labour." 

He  gives  therein  a  number  of  cogent  reasons,  very 
ingeniously  expressed,  showing  how  beneficial  emigra- 
tion would  be  to  the  mother  country,  to  the  colony, 
but  above  all  to  the  emigrant.  Treats  in  this  new  and 
inviting  field  of  the  great  advantages  conferred  and  en- 
couragements offered,  also  of  the  many  evils  in  old 
settled  countries  that  prevail  and  arise  from  luxury, 
effeminacy  and  fashion  or  custom.  Among  the  in- 
ducements held  forth  was  the  easy  terms  on  which  the 


PENN  S  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  47 

lands  should  be  sold.  Forty  shillings  sterling  for  one 
hundred  acres,  and  one  shilling  per  annum  forever  as 
quitrent. 

•'  To  conclude,"  he  says,  "  I  desire  all  my  dear 
country-folks,  who  may  be  inclined  to  go  into  those 
parts,  to  consider  seriously  the  premises,  as  well  as  the 
inconveniency  as  future  ease  and  plenty ;  that  so  none 
may  move  rashly,  or  from  a  fickle,  but  from  a  solid 
mind ;  having,  above  all  things,  an  eye  to  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  in  the  disposing  of  themselves ;  and  I 
would  further  advise  all  such,  at  least,  to  have  the  per- 
mission, if  not  the  good  liking,  of  their  near  relations  ; 
for  that  is  both  natural,  and  a  duty  incumbent  upon 
all.  And  by  this  will  natural  affections  be  preserved, 
and  a  friendly  and  profitable  correspondence  between 
them;  in  all  which  I  beseech  Almighty  God  to  direct 
us;  that  his  blessing  may  attend  our  honest 
endeavours ;  and  then  the  consequence  of  all  our 
undertakings  will  turn  to  the  glory  of  his  great  name, 
and  all  true  happiness  to  us,  and  our  posterity. 
Amen." 

James  Claypoole,  in  a  letter  dated  the  26th  of  Second 
month,  says  in  regard  to  his  "judgment  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, I  and  many  others  wiser  than  I  am,  do  very 
much  approve  of  it,  and  do  judge  William  Penn  as  fit 
a  man  as  any  in  Europe,  to  plant  a  country."  In  re- 
lation to  a  paper  that  Ponn  had  given  him  respecting 
the  province,  he  remarks,  "  I  would  have  some  discourse 


48  \VM.  I'ENN    IN    AMERICA. 

with  him,  but  he  was  in  such  extreme  haste  to  be 
gone."  Respecting  emigration,  "  there  is  great  en- 
couragement both  as  to  the  country  and  governor, 
who  I  believe,  will  establish  good  laws,  as  near  as 
he  can." 

Lewis  Morris,  recently  from  Barbadoes,  and  an 
intimate  friend  of  Penn,  sent  him  a  letter  from  New 
York,  dated  3d  of  Fourth  month,  in  which  he  says, 
"  I  was  not  a  little  rejoyced  to  read  thine,  but  rest  in 
some  hopes  that  'tis  possible  I  may  live  to  see  thy 
Face  in  these  Parts,  especialh'  since  I  have  spoken 
with  S.  Jennings,  who  told  me  he  judged  thou  hadst 
obtained  a  grant  for  the  West  part  of  the  River  Dela- 
ware, of  which  myself  and  all  our  Friends  were  glad 
to  hear.  I  doubt  not  but  Samuel  will  sufficiently 
encourage  thee  to  press  forward  and  perfect  the  Work 
of  setling  there  as  much  as  in  thee  lieth.  I  cannot 
but  let  thee  know  that  I  am  in  truth  glad,  and  in  my 
heart  sensible  of  the  great  goodness  of  God  to  us  in 
these  Parts,  in  casting  thy  Lot  amongst  us  for  surely 
there  will  be  great  need  of  thee."  Again,  on  the  25th 
of  the  same  month,  he  says,  "  I  received  thy  second 
Letter,  and  am  very  glad  thy  Lot  is  fallen  amongst  us ; 
and  do  assure  thee,  that  I  think  it  the  finest  Piece  or 
Tract  of  Land  in  all  this  North  part  of  America." 

He  also  prepared  at  this  time  "  Certain  Conditions, 
or  Concessions,"  for  "those  who  are  adventurers  and 
purchasers  "  in  the  said  province.     We  take  from  the 


PENN  S  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  49 

same  the  following  extracts,  which  are  the  more 
interesting  as  exhibiting  his  views  in  advance  of  his 
arrival : 

"  Great  roads  from  City  to  City  not  to  contain  less 
than  forty  feet  in  breadth  shall  be  first  laid  out  and  de- 
clared to  be  for  highways  before  the  dividend  of  acres 
be  laid  out  for  the  purchaser,  and  the  like  observa- 
tion to  be  had  for  the  streets  in  the  Towns  and  Cities, 
that  there  may  be  convenient  roads  and  streets  pre- 
served not  to  be  encroached  upon  by  any  planter  or 
builder,  that  none  may  build  irregularly  to  the  damage 
of  another.  In  this  customs  governs.  Notwithstand- 
ing there  be  no  mention  made  in  the  several  deeds 
made  to  the  purchasers,  yet  the  said  William  Penn, 
does  accord  and  declare,  that  all  Rivers,  Rivulets, 
Woods  and  Underwoods,  Waters,  Watercourses, 
Quarries,  Mines  and  Minerals  (except  mines  Royal), 
shall  be  freely  and  fully  enjoyed  and  wholly  by  the 
purchasers  into  whose  lot  they  shall  fall. 

"  No  man  shall  by  any  ways  or  means,  in  word  or 
deed,  affront  or  wrong  an  Indian,  but  he  shall  incur  the 
same  penalty  of  the  Law,  as  if  he  had  committed  it 
against  his  fellow  planters;  and  if  any  Indian  shall 
abuse,  in  Word  or  Deed,  any  planter  of  this  province, 
that  he  shall  not  be  his  own  Judge  upon  the  Indian, 
but  he  shall  make  his  complaint  to  the  Governor  of 
the  province,  or  his  Lieutenant  or  Deputy,  or  some  in- 
3 


50  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

ferior  magistrate  near  him,  who  shall,  to  the  utmost  of 
his  power,  take  care  with  the  king  of  the  said  Indian, 
that  all  reasonable  satisfaction  be  made  to  the  said 
injured  planter.  All  differences  between  the  Planters 
and  the  natives  shall  also  be  ended  by  Twelve  men, 
that  is  by  Six  planters  and  Six  natives,  that  so  we  may 
live  friendly  together  as  much  as  in  us  lieth,  preventing 
all  occasions  of  Heart  burnings  and  mischief  The 
Indians  shall  have  liberty  to  do  all  things  relating  to 
improvement  of  their  ground,  and  providing  susten- 
ance for  their  families,  that  any  of  the  planters  shall 
enjoy. 

"  All  shall  mark  their  hogs,  sheep  and  other  cattle, 
and  what  are  not  marked  within  three  months  after  it 
is  in  their  possession,  be  it  young  or  old,  it  shall  be 
forfeited  to  the  Governor,  that  so  people  may  be  com- 
pelled to  avoid  the  occasions  of  much  strife  between 
Planters.  All  ship  masters  shall  give  an  account  of 
their  Countries,  Names,  Ships,  Owners,  Freights  and 
Passengers,  to  an  Officer  to  be  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, which  shall  be  registered  within  Two  days  after 
their  arrival;  and  if  they  shall  refuse  so  to  do  that 
then  none  presume  to  trade  with  them,  upon  forfeiture 
thereof;  and  that  such  masters  be  looked  upon  as  hav- 
ing an  evil  intention  to  the  province." 

In  the  preface  to  the  Frame  of  Government  he  in- 
geniously observes  :  "  I  do  not  find  a  model  in  the 
world,  that  time,  place,  and  some  singular  emergencies 


PENN  S  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  5  I 

have  not  necessarily  altered ;  nor  is  it  easy  to  frame 
a  civil  government,  that  shall  serve  all  places  alike.  I 
know  what  is  said  by  the  several  admirers  of  monarchy, 
aristocracy  and  democracy,  which  are  the  rule  of  one, 
a  few,  and  many,  and  are  the  three  common  ideas  of 
government,  when  men  discourse  on  that  subject. 
But  I  choose  to  solve  the  controversy  with  this  small 
distinction,  and  it  belongs  to  all  three ;  any  government 
is  free  to  the  people  under  it  (whatever  be  the  frame) 
where  the  laws  rqle,  and  the  people  are  a  party  to  these 
laws,  and  more  than  this  is  tyranny,  oligarchy  and  con- 
fusion. Governments,  like  clocks,  go  from  the  motion 
men  give  them,  and  as  governments  are  made  and 
moved  by  men,  so  by  them  they  are  ruined  too. 
Wherefore  governments  rather  depend  upon  men,  than 
men  upon  governments.  Let  men  be  good,  and  the 
government  cannot  be  bad;  if  it  be  ill,  they  will  cure 
it.  But  if  men  be  bad,  let  the  government  be  never 
so  good,  they  will  endeavor  to  warp  and  spoil  to  their 
turn." 

He  did  not  in  his  benevolence  forget  his  friend,  the 
celebrated  George  Fox,  the  founder  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  for  in  an  indenture  dated  20th  of  Eighth 
month,  he  granted  to  him  1250  acres  to  be  located  in 
Pennsylvania.  "  Yielding  and  paying  therefore 
and  during  the  term  unto  the  said  William 
Penn  and  his  Heirs  the  Rent  of  one  Pepper 
Corn  onely  if  the  same  be  lawfully  demanded,  on  con- 


% 


52  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

sideration  of  five  shillings  in  hand  paid  at  the  time  of 
the  agreement."  In  this  instrument  he  is  styled 
"  George  Fox  of  London,  gentleman,"  and  who  was 
now  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age. 

The  Frame  of  Government  was  followed  by  a  code 
of  laws,  forty  in  number,  intended  to  be  altered  and 
amended  by  an  Assembly  in  Pennsylvania,  as  was 
done  the  following  year.  In  his  penal  code  particu- 
larly, he  was  far  in  advance  of  his  age ;  for  instance,  in 
England,  at  this  very  time,  two  hundred  offences  were 
punishable  with  death,  he  reserving  this  punishment 
only  for  one,  which  was  for  wilful  murder.  There  were 
several  great  defects  which  were  not  in  his  power  to 
remedy.  He  held  his  province  as  a  fief  from  the 
crown,  and  of  which  he  was  made  a  feudal  sovereign, 
yet  governed  it  more  satisfactorily  while  here  than  any 
of  his  Deputies. 

According  to  said  code,  no  taxes  were  to  be  collected 
but  by  law ;  in  the  courts,  all  persons  might  appear  in 
their  own  way,  and  plead  their  own  cause  ;  all  trials 
were  to  be  by  jury ;  no  oaths  to  be  required  ;  all  fines 
to  be  moderate;  all  prisons  to  be  workhouses;  all 
marriages  to  be  published  before  solemnized,  and  to 
be  solemnized  by  the  parties  taking  one  another  as 
husband  and  wife,  before  witnesses,  signing  a  certificate 
of  the  same,  and  having  it  recorded.  The  estates  of 
felons  were  liable  to  make  satisfaction  to  the  family 
wronged  to  twice  the  value,  and  in  default  to  such  pay- 


PENNS  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  53 

ment  being  made  the  felons  to  be  bondsmen  in  the 
workhouse  until  the  party  injured  be  satisfied.  All 
children  of  the  age  of  twelve  years  to  be  taught  some 
useful  trade.  Slanderers  to  be  punished  as  enemies  of 
the  public  peace. 

All  courts  to  be  open,  and  justice  to  be  neither  sold, 
denied  or  delayed.  All  prisons  to  be  workhouses  for 
felons,  vagrants,  and  loose  and  idle  persons ;  of  which 
one  shall  be  in  every  county.  All  persons  living  in 
this  province,  who  confess  and  acknowledge  the  one 
almighty  and  eternal  God,  to  be  the  Creator,  upholder 
and  ruler  of  the  world,  and  that  hold  themselves 
obliged  in  concience  to  live  peaceably  and  justly  in 
civil  society,  shall  in  no  ways  be  molested  or  pre- 
judiced for  their  religious  persuasion  or  practice  in 
matters  of  faith  and  worship,  nor  shall  they  be  com- 
pelled at  any  time  to  frequent  or  maintain  any  religious 
worship,  place  or  ministry  whatever.  These  laws  were 
agreed  upon  and  signed  by  Penn,  the  5th  of  3d  mo. 
(May),  1682,  and  clearly  show  how  far  in  justice  and 
liberality  he  was  in  advance  of  an  age  distinguished 
for  its  sanguinary  laws  and  religious  intolerance. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  "  Free  Society  of  Traders  in 
Pennsylvania,"  held  in  London  the  29th  of  3d  month, 
1682  ;  Nicholas  More,  a  physician  of  London,  was 
elected  president  for  seven  years,  John  Simcock,  yeo- 
man of  Pennsylvania,  deputy-president,  and  James 
Claypoole,  merchant  of  London,  treasurer.     A  com- 


54  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

mittee  of  twelve  were  also  chosen,  to  reside  in  the 
province ;  these  were  Thomas  Brassy,  Robert  Turner, 
Thomas  Holme,  John  Bezer,  Fra.  Plumstead,  Griffith 
Jones,  Antho.  Elton,  James  Harrison,  John  Blumston, 
Isaac  Martin,  Walter  King,  and  Wm.  Haigue.  A 
pamphlet  was  published  by  Benjamin  Clark,  "printer 
to  the  Society,"  this  year,  entitled,  "  The  articles, 
settlement  and  offices  of  the  Free  Society  of  Traders 
in  Pennsylvania :  agreed  upon  by  divers  merchants 
and  others  for  the  better  improvement  and  government 
of  trade  in  that  province."  The  preface  is  dated 
"London  25th  of  ist  mo.  called  March,  1682;"  and 
signed  by  Nicholas  More,  James  Claypoole  and  James 
Ford,  who  appear  to  be  the  most  conspicuous  pro- 
moters in  the  enterprise^.-^ 

The  extraordinary  industry  so  actively  exhibited  by 
Penn  in  various  ways,  for  the  advancement  of  his  great 
undertaking,  was  seriously  interrupted  by  the  death  of 
his  mother  in  June  of  this  year,  to  whom  he  was  most 
tenderly  attached,  and  by  whose  loss  he  was  deeply 
affected.  She  was  represented  as  an  excellent  woman, 
and  in  the  many  trials  he  encountered  for  his  religious 
principles,  had  in  her  a  ready  sympathizer  and  coun- 
sellor. Clarkson  says  that  he  was  so  affected  by  the 
occurrence  that  it  brought  on  an  illness  of  several  days 
duration.  This  lady  was  Margaret,  the  daughter  of 
John  Jasper,  a  native  of  Rotterdam,  where  the  latter 
was    a  merchant.     Pepys    describes    her  as    "a  well- 


PENNS  EXERTIONS  FOR  HIS  PROVINCE.  55 

looked,  but  short  old  Dutch  woman,  but  one  that  hath 
been  heretofore  pretty  handsome,  and  believe  hath 
more  wit  than  her  husband."  My  friend,  Dr.  James 
J.  Levick,  in  a  late  address  on  William  Penn  (see  Phila. 
Public  Ledger,  Oct.  29th,  1887),  remarks,  "Unless  we 
attribute  it  to  a  special  Divine  interposition  I  can  ac- 
count for  it  in  no  other  way  than  by  the  fact  that  the 
wife  of  Sir  William  Penn  and  the  mother  of  his  boy 
came  of  that  quiet,  thoughtfully  earnest  race  who  have 
made  Holland  a  garden  spot,  and  the  purity  of  whose 
domestic  life  has  been  recognized  for  generations. 
Each  year  of  my  life  I  am  the  more  convinced  of  the 
influence  of  heredity  in  determining  the  character  of 
the  offspring.  Had  Sir  William  Penn  chosen  his  wife 
from  the  giddy  creatures  of  the  court  of  Charles,  or 
even  from  among  the  English  women  of  what  was  his 
own  station  in  early  manhood,  I  fear  that  William 
Penn,  as  the  founder  of  a  great,  peaceful  common- 
wealth, would  have  been  unknown  to  history." 

To  encourage  emigration  still  further,  Penn  prepared 
another  work  on  his  colony,  which  appeared  in  a  small 
octavo  pamphlet  of  eighteen  pages,  with  the  following 
title :  "  Plantation  Work,  the  Work  of  this  Generation. 
Written  in  True- Love  To  all  such  as  are  weightily  in- 
clined to  Transplant  themselves  and  Families  to  any 
of  the  English  Plantations  in  America.  The  Most 
material  Doubts  and  Objections  against  it  being 
removed,    they     may    more    cheerfully    proceed    to 


56  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  Glory  and  Renown  of  the  God  of  the  whole  Earth, 
who  in  all  Undertakings  is  to  be  looked  unto,  Praised 
and  Feared  for  Ever.  Aspice  venturo  Icetetur  ut  India 
Seclo.  London,  Printed  for  Benjamin  Clark  in  George- 
Yard  in  Lombard-street,  1682."  Though  published 
anonymously,  mention  is  made  on  the  first  page  that 
"  W.  Penn  and  his  Friends  are  now  engaged  in  these 
plantations."  At  page  3,  it  is  stated,  "  England 
was  once  as  rough  and  rugged  as  America,  and  the 
Inhabitants  as  blind  and  barbarous  as  the  Indians." 
It  contains  also  several  letters  addressed  to  Penn  from 
America,  of  which  we  have  gladly  availed  ourselves,  as 
this  work  is  but  little  known. 

In  a  Discourse  by  William  Rawle  before  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania,  delivered  Nov.  5th, 
1825,  we  find  the  following  high  compliment  to  such 
labors :  "  The  first  colonists  were  invited  in  Europe 
by  William  Penn,  in  the  most  fair  and  candid  manner, 
to  become  not  conquerors  but  cultivators  of  the  soil ; 
to  conciliate  not  to  extirpate  the  natives — to  earn  their 
bread  by  labour,  not  to  acquire  wealth  by  the  prodig- 
ality of  chance,  the  pursuit  of  precious  metals,  or  by 
reducing  the  helpless  natives  to  slavery.  They  felt  no 
disappointment  when  they  found,  that  woods  were  to 
be  prostrated,  cabins  to  be  erected,  the  earth  to  be 
opened,  and  its  slow  returns  received,  before  subsistence 
was  obtained.  They  relied  on  the  smiles  of  a  graciouS 
Providence,  but  they  knew  that  His  aid  is  only  granted 


penn's  exertions  for  his  province.  57 

to   those    who    exert   all  their  own  faculties  to  help 
themselves." 

Janney,  not  without  strong  reason,  in  his  Biography 
remarks  :  "  Is  not  the  superiority  of  Penn's  frame  of 
government  to  be  attributed  to  the  peculiar  influence 
of  his  religious  associations  ?  He  was  united  in  fellow- 
ship with  a  people  whose  principles  and  practice  were 
essentially  democratic ;  they  acknowledged  no  dis- 
tinction of  clergy  or  laity ;  they  placed  a  low  estimate 
on  hereditary  rank,  and  they  laid  the  foundation  of 
their  church  discipline  on  the  supremacy  of  that 
divine  principle  in  man  which  leads  to  equality  of 
rights  and  universal  fraternity."  These  exertions  of 
Penn  were  not  unavailing,  they  have  left  their  impress 
on  the  age,  and  their  influences  have  been  extending. 


58  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PENN'S    departure    and    arrival    in    AMERICA.       . 

[August-October  24.,  16^2.'] 

A  YEAR  and  a  half  had  now  nearly  passed  since  Penn 
received  his  charter,  and  a  few  months  less  when  Mark- 
ham  started  for  the  distant  colony.  All  hopes  for  a 
year  or  two  at  reform  in  Parliament  vanished,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  bigotry  and  tyranny  prevailed  the  more, 
which  was  an  additional  incentive  for  Friends  to  seek 
an  asylum  in  the  wilds  of  the  New  World  for  the  en- 
joyment of  that  freedom  which  was  denied  them  at 
home,  and  for  which  they  had  so  long  been  persecuted 
for  conscience'  sake.  No  wonder  that  Penn  bent  all 
his  energies  to  the  noble  work  on  which  he  was  en- 
gaged, and  endeavored  to  execute  that  abroad  which 
was  found  impracticable  in  the  land  of  his  birth.  Our 
greatest  admiration  is,  that  he  was  ever  permitted,  under 
the  circumstances,  to  carry  out  the  realization  of  his 
darling  schemes,  however  distant.  That  he  achieved 
this  in  our  opinion  is  one  of  his  greatest  triumphs, 
though  scarcely  dwelt  on  by  his  biographers. 

After  having  made  the  most  necessary  arrangements 
in  his  business  affairs,  with  a  view  to   his  absence  in 


PENN  S  DEPARTURE  AND  ARRIVAL  IN  AMERICA.   59 

America,  he  engaged  passage  in  the  ship  Welcome,  of 
three  hundred  tons  burthen,  Robert  Greenaway, 
master.  Shortly  after  he  prepared  at  his  house  in 
Worminghurst,  Sussex,  a  beautiful,  instructive  and 
affecting  letter  by  way  of  counsel,  addressed  to  his  wife 
and  children,  dated  the  4th  of  Sixth  month,  1682; 
and  from  which  we  take  the  following  extracts  : 

"  My  dear  Wife  and  Children : — My  love,  which 
neither  sea,  nor  land,  nor  death  itself,  can  extinguish 
or  lesson  toward  you,  most  endearedly  visits  you  with 
eternal  embraces,  and  will  abide  with  you  for  ever; 
and  may  the  God  of  my  life  watch  over  you  and  bless 
you,  and  do  you  good  in  this  world  and  for  ever ! — 
Some  things  are  upon  my  spirit  to  leave  with  you  in 
your  respective  capacities,  as  I  am  to  one  a  husband, 
and  to  the  rest  a  father,  if  I  should  never  see  you  more 
in  the  world. 

"  My  dear  wife !  remember  thou  wast  the  love  of 
my  youth,  and  much  the  joy  of  my  life;  the 
most  beloved,  as  well  as  the  most  worthy  of 
all  my  earthly  comforts :  and  the  reason  of 
that  love  was  more  thy  inward  than  thy  outward  ex- 
cellencies, which  yet  are  many.  God  knows,  and  thou 
knowest  it,  I  can  say  it  was  a  match  of  Providence's 
making;  and  God's  image  in  us  both  was  the  first 
thing,  and  the  most  amiable  and  engaging  ornament  in 
our  eyes.  Now  I  am  to  leave  thee,  and  that  without 
knowing  whether  I  shall  ever  see  thee  more  in  this  world. 


60  \VM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

take  my  counsel  unto  thy  bosom  and  let  it  dwell  with 
thee  in  my  stead  while  thou  livest. 

"  Cast  up  thy  income,  and  see  what  it  daily  amounts 
to :  by  which  thou  mayst  be  sure  to  have  it  in  thy 
sight  and  power  to  keep  within  compass  :  and  beseech 
thee  to  live  low  and  sparingly  till  my  debts  are  paid; 
and  then  enlarge  as  thou  seest  it  convenient.  Remem- 
ber thy  mother's  example,  when  thy  father's  public- 
spiritedness  had  worsted  his  estate  (which  is  my  case.) 
I  know  thou  lovest  plain  things,  and  art  averse  to  the 
pomps  of  the  world — a  nobility  natural  to  thee.  I 
write,  not  as  doubtful,  but  to  quicken  thee,  for  my 
sake,  to  be  more  vigilant  herein ;  knowing  that  God 
will  bless  thy  care,  and  thy  poor  children  and  thee  for 
it.  My  mind  is  wrapt  up  in  saying  of  thy  fathers,  '  I 
desire  not  riches,  but  to  owe  nothing ; '  and  truly  that 
is  wealth,  and  more  than  enough  to  live  is  a  snare 
attended  with  many  sorrows.  I  need  not  bid  thee  to 
be  humble,  for  thou  art  so ;  nor  meek  and  patient,  for 
it  is  much  of  thy  natural  disposition  but  I  pray  thee 
be  oft  in  retirement  with  the  Lord,  and  guard  against 
encroaching  friendships. 

"  I  choose  not  they  should  be  married  to  earthly, 
covetous  kindred;  and  of  cities  and  towns  of  concourse 
l)eware ;  the  world  is  apt  to  stick  close  to  those  who 
have  lived  and  got  wealth  there :  a  country  life  and 
estate  I  like  best  for  my  children.  Next  be  obedient 
to  your  dear  mother,  a  woman  whose  virtue  and  good 


PENN's  departure  and  arrival  in  AMERICA.       6  I 

name  is  an  honour  to  you ;  for  she  hath  been  ex- 
ceeded by  none  in  her  time  for  her  plainness,  integrity, 
industry,  humanity,  virtue,  and  good  understanding — 
qualities  not  usual  among  women  of  her  worldly  con- 
dition and  quality.  Ruin  not  yourselves  by  kindness 
to  others  ;  for  that  exceeds  the  bounds  of  friendship,, 
neither  will  a  true  friend  expect  it" 

We  may  well  judge  the  feelings  under  which  the 
above  was  written,  not  knowing  when  he  would  return 
or  whether  he  should  indeed  ever  see  them  again.  He 
embarked  at  Deal  in  company  with  several  friends,  and  on 
the  30th  he  addressed  from  the  Downs,  "  A  salutation 
to  all  Faithful  Friends  in  England."  Over  one  hun- 
dred passengers  went  on  board,  a  portion  of  whom 
were  from  Sussex  and  Yorkshire,  and  nearly  all  belong- 
ing to  the  Society  of  Friends.  On  or  about  Septem- 
ber 1st  the  vessel  weighed  anchor,  and  under  a  light 
breeze  stood  out  to  sea,  and  those  on  deck  could 
observe  the  Foreland  and  Dover  Castle  fading  in  the 
distance,  the  last  glimpse  of  their  native  land. 

It  may  be  well  at  this  place  in  our  labors  to  give  a 
list  of  those  who  accompanied  the  great  Founder  in 
this  his  first  voyage  across  the  broad  Atlantic.  Many 
of  these  have  numerous  descendants  and  amongst  the 
best  citizens  of  our  land,  and  to  whom  it  will  possess 
an  especial  interest.  My  friends,  Wm.  F.  Corbitt  and 
Dr.  E.  D.  Buckman,  of  Philadelphia,  have  given  the 
matter  particular  attention,  and  we  are  greatly  indebted 


62  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

to  them  for  assistance  in  preparing  the  following  list, 
which  is  believed  to  be  nearly  complete,  and  will  be 
found  to  differ  somewhat  from  those  published,  owing 
•to  a  more  recent  and  fuller  investigation  of  au- 
thorities : 

Passengers  in  the  "Welcome." 

Williaqi^  Penn,  John  Barber  and  wife  Elizabeth ; 
Wm.  Buckman,  wife  Mary,  children  Sarah  and  Mary 
and  sister  Ruth  Buckman ;  John  Carver  and  wife 
Mary;  Benjamin  Chambers, Thos.Croasdale, wife  Agnes 
and  six  children ;  Ellen  Cowgill,  a  widow,  and  five 
children ;  John  Fisher,  wife  Margaret  and  son  John ; 
Thos.  Fitzwater,  wife  Mary  and  children  Thomas, 
George,  Josiah  and  Mary  and  John  Otley,  his  servant ; 
Thomas  Gillett,  Cuthbert  Hayhurst,  wife  and  children ; 
Thomas  Heriot,  Wm.  Hayhurst,  John  Hey,  Richard 
Ingels,  Isaac  Ingram,  Giles  Knight,  wife  Mary  and  son 
Joseph ;  Wm.  Lushington,  Hannah  Mogridge,  Joshua 
Morris,  David  Ogden  and  two  sisters ;  Evan  Oliver, 
wife  Jean  and  seven  children ;  John  Rowland  and  wife 
Priscilla,  Thos.  Rowland,  John  Songhurst,  Thomas 
Stackhouse  and  wife  Margery ;  George  Thompson  ; 
Richard  Townsend,  wife  Anne  and  children  James  and 
Anne;  William  Wade;  Thos.  Walmsley,  wife  Eliza- 
beth and  six  children  ;  Nicholas  Wain,  wife  and  three 
children;  Joseph  Woodroofe;  Thos.  Wigglesworth 
and  wife;  Thomas  Wynne  and  wife  Elizabeth;  Jane 


PENN'S  departure  and  arrival  in  AMERICA.       63 

and  Margery  Maud,  daughters  of  Elizabeth  Wynne ; 
Bartholomew  Green;  Nathaniel  Harrison;  Thomas 
Jones ;  Jean  Mathews ;  Dennis  Rochford,  wife  Mary 
and  daughters  Grace  and  Mary;  William  Smith. 

The  aforesaid  list  contains  a  mention  of  one  hundred 
and  two  persons,  besides  several  children,  and  it  is 
possible  that  Penn  was  accompanied  by  one  or  more 
servants.  To  the  Records  of  Middletowi%.  Monthly 
Meeting,  Bucks  County,  we  are  chiefly  indebted  for 
the  information  respecting  Thomas  Croasdale,  Cuth- 
bert  Hayhurst,  Wm.  Hayhurst,  Thos.  Stackhouse, 
Thos.  Walmsley,  Nicholas  Wain  and  Thomas  Wiggles- 
worth,  who,  with  their  families,  originally  settled  there. 

We  may  well  suppose,  as  the  goodly  ship  Welcome 
sped  on  her  way  for  the  distant  shores  of  America,  with 
what  anxious  hopes  Friends  in  England  must  have 
watched  her  departure,  for  on  Penn  and  his  colony  chiefly 
depended  the  expectations  of  their  society.  However 
bright  the  anticipations  of  those  on  board  in  the  begin- 
ning, sickness  and  sorrow  soon  saddened  their  hopes. 
That  terrible  malady,  the  small-pox,  appeared,  at  first 
in  a  mild  form,  but  developed  itself  more  acnd  more  as 
the  voyage  continued,  till  at  last  nearly  all  were 
attacked,  and  the  deaths  alarmingly  increased. 

Richard  Townsend,  one  of  the  passengers,  in  his 
Testimony,  says,  "  I  went  aboard  the  Welcome  in 
company  with  my  worthy  friend  William  Penn,  whose 
good  conversation  was  very  advantageous   to  all  the 


64  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

company.  His  singular  care  was  manifested  in  con- 
tributing to  the  necessities  of  many  who  were  sick  on 
board  of  small-pox,  of  whom  as  many  as  thirty  died. 
After  a  prosperous  passage  of  two  months,  having  had 
in  that  time  many  good  meetings  on  board,  we  arrived 
there."  James  Claypoole,  a  merchant  of  London,  in  a 
letter  to  Robert  Turner,  dated  the  9th  of  i  ith  month, 
in  which  he  says,  he  had  heard  that  "  thirty-one  friends" 
had  died  in  "  William  Penn's  ship  of  the  small-pox." 
Being  upwards  of  one-fourth  the  entire  number. 

From  the  crowded  condition  of  the  vessel,  it  was 
impossible  to  prevent  contagion  spreading,  but  by  all 
possible  care,  attention  and  medicines  on  the  part  of 
those  most  able,  much  was  done  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  the  sufferers,  and  keep  the  malady  under. 
As  we  see,  Penn  nobly  exerted  himself  in  their  behalf, 
and  contributed  liberally  whatever  was  needed  from 
his  own  stores.  Need  we  wonder,  under  such  circum- 
stances, that  they  hailed  with  joy  their  first  glimpse  of 
the  low-wooded  shores  of  the  Delaware  as  a  timely 
deliverance  from  the  dread  monster  that  was  destroying 
them.  The  horrors  of  the  passage  were  long  retained  in 
the  recollections  of  the  survivors  and  of  their  descend- 
ants. Of  those  that  died,  the  following  names  have 
been  ascertained:  John  Barber,  Mary,  wife  of  Thos. 
Fitzwater,  and  children  Josiah  and  Mary,  Thomas 
Heriott,  Isaac  Ingram,  William  Wade,  and  Grace  and 
Mary,  the  daughters  of  Dennis  Rochford. 


PENN's  departure  and  arrival  in  AMERICA.       65 

Penn  had  a  fondness  for  horses,  and  Dixon  states 
that  in  this  voyage  he  brought  over  three  blooded 
mares,  a  fine  white  horse,  and  other  inferior  animals 
for  labor.  His  inquiries  afterwards  concerning  the 
mares  were  as  frequent  and  minute  as  those  about  the 
gardens. 

After  having  been  at  sea  about  fifty-four  days,  on  the 
24th  of  October  (8th  mo,),  they  arrived  in  sight  of  the 
Capes,  and  the  vessel  stood  up  the  bay.  Eager  excite- 
ment was  now  on  board,  with  impatient  longings  to  be 
speedily  delivered  from  the  endurance  of  confined 
quarters  and  a  dangerous  disease.  Not  three  days 
more,  and  they  were  to  set  their  feet  for  the  first  time 
on  the  soil  of  the  newly-acquired  territory. 


66  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE  LANDING  AT  NEW  CASTLE,  UPLAND  AND  PHILA- 
DELPHIA. 

[Oa.  27 -Nov.,  1682.'] 

On  the  27th  of  October,  the  Welcome  arrived  before 
the  town  of  New  Castle,  in  Delaware,  and  it  is  likely 
that  Penn  and  several  of  his  companions  at  once  pro- 
ceeded on  shore  to  visit  some  of  the  principal  inhabit- 
ants, and  make  known  his  most  important  business. 
In  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day  a  meeting  was  held, 
when  he  made  an  address  to  the  magistrates  and  others, 
in  which  he  explained  to  them  the  nature  of  his  govern- 
ment, his  designs  in  coming  and  what  he  expected  to 
accomplish.  He  produced  the  two  deeds  of  feoffment 
executed  to  him  August  24th,  1682,  by  James,  Duke 
of  York  and  Albany.  One  for  this  town  of  New 
Castle  and  twelve  miles  about  it,  and  the  other  for  the 
two  lower  counties,  the  Whorekills  and  St.  Jones's. 
By  virtue  of  the  power  conferred  in  these  instruments 
he  now  demanded  possession  of  the  same  from  John 
Moll,  Esq.,  and  Ephraim  Herman,  constituted  attorneys 
by  his  Royal  Highness.  According  to  the  usual  form, 
these  gentlemen  delivered  unto  him  "  the  fort  of  said 


LANDING    AT    NEW    CASTLE    AND    PHILADELPHIA.     6/ 

town,  and  leaving  the  said  William  Penn  in  quiet  and 
peaceable  possession  thereof,  and  also  by  the  delivery  of 
turf  and  twig,  and  water  and  soyle  of  the  River  Dela- 
ware." 

Having  received  written  pledges  of  fidelity  and 
obedience  to  him  and  his  government,  he  at  once  com- 
missioned John  Moll,  Peter  Aldricks,  Johannes  de 
Haes,  William  Simple,  Arnoldus  de  la  Grange,  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  and  a  Court  of  Judicature,  for  the  town  of 
New  Castle.  His  Deputy  Markham  he  appointed  his  at- 
torney to  receive  from  Moll  and  Herman  possession  of 
the  counties  below  New  Castle,  which  was  accomplished  a 
few  days  afterwards.  Having  received  the  formality 
of  quiet  possession,  and  the  requisite  business  des- 
patched, Penn  without  delay  went  on  board  the  Wel- 
come, and  under  a  favoring  breeze  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day  the  passage  of  near  twenty  miles  was 
soon  made,  and  he  arrived  at  Upland,  a  seat  of  judica- 
ture, and  the  most  populous  place  in  his  province. 
That  Penn  arrived  here  on  this  day  we  have  the 
authority  of  Evan  Oliver,  one  of  the  passengers,  who 
says,  in  a  manuscript  book,  "  We  came  out  of  Radnor- 
shire in  Wales,  about  ye  beginning  of  ye  6 
mo  '82,  and  arrived  at  Upland  in  Pensilvania  in 
America,  ye  28  of  ye  8  month,  '82." — From  a  letter 
by  Benjamin  Ferris  to  Edward  Armstrong,  dated 
Twelfth  month  31,  1851,  and  now  in  the  possession  of 
the  Historical  Society. 


68  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

On  the  following  day  ("  29th  8ber ")  he  dated 
from  here  two  letters.  The  first  is  directed  to 
Ephraim  Herman,  in  which  he  says,  "  With  my  love, 
this  is  to  desire  thee  to  despatch  away  a  messenger, 
upon  receipt  hereof,  with  the  enclosed  letters,  to 
several  persons  and  places  they  are  directed  to,  that  so 
they  may  be  at  New  Castle,  at  the  court,  the  2d  of 
of  9th  month,  in   which  thou   wilt   oblige  thy  loving 

and  true  friend, 

**  William  Penn." 

By  way  of  postscript  adds,  **  Direct  the  enclosed 
letters  and  seal  them.  I  will  pay  the  messenger." 
He  here  refers  to  the  following,  addressed  separately 
to  Wm.  Darval,  Francis  Whitewell,  John  Hillyard, 
Robert  Starr  and  John  Briggs,  and  which,  from  the 
shortness  of  the  time,  now  required  despatch  in  their 
delivery : 

"  Thes  are  to  desire  you  to  meet  me  at  New  Castle,  next 
Thursday,  (so  called,)  being  ye  2d  of  November,  where 
I  shall  hold  a  General  Court  for  the  settlement  of  the 
Jurisdiction  of  thes  and  your  parts,  and  in  so  doing 
you  will  oblige, 

"  Your  Loving  Friend, 

"William  Penn." 

And  adds,  "  if,  there  be  any  persons  of  note,  or  others, 
yt  desire  to  come,  they  may  freely  do  it,  and  this 
pray  signify." 


LANDING    AT    NEW    CASTLE    AND    PHILADELPHIA.     69 

Upland,  distinguished  as  the  place  of  Penn's  first 
landing  in  the  province,  may  deserve  some  further  no- 
tice. It  was  founded  by  the  Swedes,  and  known  by 
this  name  as  early  as  1648,  and  is  said  to  have  been  so 
called  after  a  province  in  Sweden  on  the  Gulf  of  Both- 
nia, but  its  Indian  name  was  Mecopanaca.  Robert 
Wade,  a  Friend  from  England,  who  had  suffered  there 
for  his  religion,  had  settled  here  as  early  as  1675, 
when  the  first  Meetings  of  Friends  in  the  colony  were 
held  at  his  house,  which  was  visited  the  same  year  by 
William  Edmundson,  as  mentioned  in  his  journal.  It 
stood  on  a  beautiful  rising  ground  on  the  west  side  of 
Chester  Creek,  but  near  its  mouth,  where  he  had  a 
landing  place.  At  his  house,  too,  the  Friends  "  belong- 
ing to  Marcus  Hooke  and  Upland "  held  their  first 
Monthly  Meeting  the  loth  of  i  ith  Month,  1681  ; 
which  is  the  date  of  their  earliest  records.  A  court 
had  been  held  in  the  place  for  some  time,  and  a  prison 
built  for  offenders. 

No  doubt,  on  landing,  Penn  proceeded  to  the  house 
of  Robert  Wade,  the  hospitable  Friend,  and  attended 
on  this  day  (the  29th  was  First-day)  one  of  the  Meet- 
ings for  worship  which  had  now  been  held  here  for  up- 
wards of  seven  years.  As  regards  changing  the  name  of 
Upland  to  Chester,  the  Proprietary  has  been  rather 
sharply  criticised.  All  this  appears  to  rest  on  the  au- 
thority of  Clarkson,  in  a  work,  published  at  London  in 
1 8 1 3,  that  contains  numerous  errors.     Those  who  have 


70  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

given  especial  attention  to  the  matter  say  that  they 
cannot  find  evidence  of  any  person  by  the  name  of 
Pearson  being  a  passenger  in  the  Welcome.  This  will, 
at  least  in  part,  explain  that  it  was  not  done  in  "  a 
mere  whim,"  by  "  caprice,"  or  any  exhibition  of  undue 
vanity,  and  which  it  is  time  should,  at  least,  be  ques- 
tioned, if  not  exposed. 

According  to  notice  given,  Penn  was  present  at  the 
Court  held  at  New  Castle  on  November  2d,  being  the 
fifth  day  of  the  week.  There  was  also  in  attendance 
his  Deputy,  Markham,  the  Mayor,  Thomas  Holme, 
William  Haigue,  John  Simcock,  and  Thomas  Brazie  of 
the  Council,  and  John  Moll,  John  de  Haes,  William 
Simpell,  Arnoldus  de  la  Grange,  and  John  Cann,  Jus- 
tices. The  proceedings  were  opened  in  the  name  of 
''Our  sovereign  Lord,  King  Charles  II.,  etc.,  and  by 
the  commissioned  appointment  of  William  Penn,  Esq., 
Proprietary  and  Governor  of  Pennsylvania."  At  its 
close,  Penn  stated  that  if  any  person  had  requests  or 
petitions  to  present  to  him,  he  desired  it  done  now,  for 
an  answer  at  their  next  meeting.  The  Court  then  ad- 
journed till  the  "  First  Tuesday  of  December  next." 

It  is  related  on  the  authority  of  tradition,  that  from 
Upland  Penn  went  with  several  of  his  friends  in  an 
open  boat  or  barge  to  the  site  of  Philadelphia.  If  this 
was  the  case,  he  may  have  returned  from  the  Court  at 
New  Castle  by  land,  unless  the  former  mode  of  con- 
veyance had  been   used   by   him  the   whole  distance. 


LANDING    AT    NEW    CASTLE    AND    PHILADELPHIA.     /I 

Near  a  high,  bold  shore,  covered  with  lofty  pines  and 
called  Coaquannock,  they  entered  Dock  creek,  a  small 
stream,  deep  at  its  mouth,  with  a  low,  sandy  beach, 
where  they  landed,  and  the  Proprietary  and  his  com- 
panions went  on  shore  near  a  house  then  building  by 
George  Guest  on  Front  Street,  and  afterwards  known 
as  the  "Blue  Anchor  Tavern."  He  was  so  pleased 
with  the  conveniences  of  the  spot,  that  he  reserved  it 
for  a  public  landing-place  in  the  original  city  charter. 

The  time  of  his  arrival  here  is  thus  noted  in  the 
Minutes  of  Abington  Records:  "At  a  Monthly 
Meeting  the  8th  of  9th  month,  1682:  At  this  time  Gov- 
ernor William  Penn,  and  a  multitude  of  Friends  arrived 
here,  and  erected  a  city  called  Philadelphia,  about  half 
a  mile  from  Shackamaxon,  where  meetings  were  estab- 
lished. Thomas  Fairman  at  the  request  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, removed  himself  and  family  to  Tacony,  where 
there  was  also  a  meeting  appointed  to  be  kept,  and  the 
ancient  meeting  of  Sackamaxon  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, from  which  meeting,  also,  other  meetings  were 
appointed  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania." 

The  cause  of  Fairman  removing  was,  that  Penn  had 
now  engaged  his  house,  as  we  learn  from  his  "  bill  of 
charges  "  for  1682,  in  which  he  says,  "  To  leaving  my 
house  in  the  winter  season  for  the  Proprietor's  use." 
He  also  mentions  therein  several  journeys  made  with 
Penn,  and  for  supplying  him  with  horses.  There  is 
one  for  "  taking  the  courses   of  Schuylkill   above  the 


72  WM.  PENN    JN    AMERICA. 

town,"  one  "  to  Senew  Sickon,"  one  *'  to  Uniboleke- 
mensin,"  and  another  "  to  search  out  a  swamp  for  the 
Societies  tannery."  That  he  was  at  least  nearly  two 
years  here  before  Penn's  arrival  we  have  certain  evi- 
dence from  the  Marriage  Records  of  Burlington 
Monthly  Meeting,  wherein  it  is  stated  that  **  Thomas 
Fairman  of  Shackamaxon  on  ye  river  Delaware,"  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Kinsey  the  24th  of  lOth  month, 
1680,  at  the  house  of  John  Woolston  in  Burlington. 

The  aforesaid  mention  of  Philadelphia  in  the  Abing- 
ton  Minutes  is  the  earliest  known  to  us  of  the  name, 
and  appears  not  to  have  been  given  to  it  till  after  the 
arrival  of  Penn.  No  doubt  it  was  applied  by  him 
after  that  of  a  city  in  Lydia,  Asia  Minor,  the  seat  of 
one  of  the  seven  early  Christian  churches.  Its  signi- 
fication, brotherly  love,  coincided  with  his  principles, 
and  therefore  commended  it  to  his  judgment. 

The  site  of  the  city  had  been  determined  by  three 
commissioners,  appointed  September  30th,  168 1  ;  sent 
out  in  advance  of  his  arrival,  and  acting  under  his  in- 
structions. No  doubt,  under  their  direction,  Thomas 
Holme,  the  surveyor-general,  with  the  assistance  of 
Thomas  Fairman,  had  already  made  some  progress  in 
laying  out  the  streets,  and  several  buildings  may  have 
been  erected.  Afterwards,  Penn  made  several  changes 
in  the  location  and  names  of  the  streets.  It  was  con- 
templated in  the  original  plan  to  allow  no  buildings  to 
be  erected  near  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  to  have 


LANDING    AT    NEW    CASTLE    AND    PHILADELPHIA.     73 

there  a  broad  avenue  along  the  entire  length  of  the 
city.  This  salutary  and  beautiful  arrangement  in  time 
was  permitted  to  be  infringed,  and  to  this  cause  can  be 
attributed  the  narrow  and  irregular  streets  that  discom- 
mode its  eastern  front. 

As  Penn  had  determined  on  calling  a  meeting  of 
the  Assembly  at  Upland,  now  called  Chester,  on  the 
4th  of  the  following  month,  and  to  which  his  presence 
as  proprietary  and  governor  would  be  required,  he 
concluded  in  the  interval  to  avail  himself  of  a  trip  to 
New  York,  in  order  "to  pay  his  duty  to  the  Duke  of 
York  in  visiting  his  province."  At  what  time  he  set 
out  in  this  month  and  the  period  of  his  absence  is  not 
known.  Our  information  respecting  the  same  is . 
chiefly  derived  from  a  letter  dated  at  Chester,  29th  of 
loth  month,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  have  been  also  at 
New  York,  Long  Island,  East  Jersey  and  Maryland ; 
in  which  I  have  had  good  and  eminent  service  for  the 
Lord."  It  seems  to  have  been  chiefly  made  on  a 
religious  account,  visiting  Friends'  Meetings,  and  ex- 
tending the  circle  of  his  acquaintance.  In  this  journey 
it  is  likely  he  proceeded  by  boat  to  Burlington,  or  the 
Falls,  thence  by  horseback  overland  to  New  York. 
It  may  have  been  then  that  he  fixed  upon  the  site  of 
his  mansion  in  Pennsbury  Manor,  which  was  on  his 
way  between  Burlington  and  the  Falls,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river. 

About  this  time  he  must  have  held  his  great  treaty 


74  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

of  amity  with  the  Indians,  and  to  which  he  had  refer- 
ence in  his  letter  to  them,  dated  *•  London,  i8th  of  8th 
month,  1 68 1,"  wherein  he  says,  *'  I  shall  shortly  come 
to  you  myself,  at.  what  time  we  may  more  largely  and 
freely  confer  and  discourse  on  these  matters ;  "  mean- 
ing the  harmony  and  friendship  that  should  exist  be- 
tween them  and  himself  and  his  people.  As  stated,  he 
had  now  taken  up  his  abode  for  awhile  at  Fairman's 
mansion  at  Shackamaxon,  and  it  looks  as  if  the  jour- 
neys made  by  him  and  Fairman  on  horseback  to 
"  Senew  Sickon "  and  "  Umbolekemensin,"  were  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose  of  engaging  and  drawing  the 
Indians  together  in  a  general  council. 

I  have  faith  in  the  great  treaty,  held  at  Shacka- 
maxon under  the  elm,  for  the  same  reasons  and  au- 
thority that  Thomas  Holme  had  read  there  the  Pro- 
prietary's letter  through  an  interpreter  in  August 
previous.*  The  great  belt  of  wampum,  given  by  the 
Indians  to  Penn,  is  another  evidence,  and  which  by 
him  was  ever  after  highly  regarded.  This  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Historical  Society  by  his  great-grandson, 
Granville  John  Penn,  from  England,  April  13th,  185  i. 
It  is  composed  of  eighteen  strings  of  wampum  woven 
together  into  a  belt,  six  inches  wide  and  twenty-six 
inches  in  length.  In  the  centre  is  a  representation  of 
a  man  with  a  hat  on,  holding  another  by  the  hand. 
I  would    ask,  What  does   this  signify   but   amity  or 

•  See  Penn's  letter  to  the  Indians  in  Chapter  II. 


LANDING  AT  NEW  CASTLE  AND  PHILADELPHIA.  75 

friendship  performed  in  deeds  of  peace?  Such  a  one 
it  is  not  likely  would  have  been  given  at  any  purchase 
of  lands  ;  according  to  the  Indian  idea  it  would  not 
have  been  appropriate,  and  such  are  my  views.  On 
this  subject  the  imagination  of  Ciarkson  has  been  so 
extravagant,  and  a  few  others,  that  we  do  not  wonder 
that  faith  in  the  great  treaty  has  been  impaired. 

The  great  elm,  or  Treaty  Tree,  stood  till  the  year 
1 8 10,  when  it  was  blown  down.  It  was  24  feet  in 
girth,  and  believed  to  be  280  years  old,  making  its  age 
at  the  time  of  the  treaty  152  years ;  sufficient  to  have 
been  then  a  large  tree  adapted  to  the  purpose.  A 
scion  of  it  is  growing  vigorously,  and  is  now  a  fair- 
sized  tree  on  the  grounds  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hos- 
pital. On  the  site  of  the  treaty,  the  Penn  Society 
erected,  several  years  ago,  a  small  monument  with 
appropriate  inscriptions,  in  commemoration  of  the  spot. 
Watson,  in  his  Annals,  relates  that  from  the  time  of 
Penn  down  to  the  present  day,  tradition  among  the 
Indians,  as  well  as  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia,  has 
been  uniform  in  designating  the  elm  tree  at  Kensing- 
ton as  the  spot  where  the  great  treaty  was  held  ;  and 
so  confidently  was  this  believed  during  the  Revolution 
that  the  British  General  Simcoe,  when  his  troops  oc- 
cupied the  town,  placed  a  guard  around  the  venerated 
tree  to  protect  it  from  injury,  as,  from  the  need  they 
had  for  fuel,  it  otherwise  might  have  been  destroyed. 

The  name  Shackamaxon,  or,  in  old  records,  Sacha- 


76  WiM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

maxing,  in  the  Delaware  language  signifies  the  Place 
of  Kings ;  Sakema  or  Sachem  being  the  name  for  a 
king  or  chief  From  the  Penn  Papers  we  learn  that 
our  distinguished  countryman,  Benjamin  West,  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Penn  family,  in  1773,  to  paint  the 
original  historical  picture  of  the  treaty  of  1682,  and  for 
which  he  received  ^^420.  It  was  purchased  by  the 
late  Joseph  Harrison,  of  Philadelphia,  from  Granville 
John  Penn,  in  England,  in  185  i,  for  ;^500,  and  may 
now  be  seen  in  the  City  Museum  in  the  State  House. 
The  Historical  Society  has,  framed,  a  handsome  paint- 
ing of  the  Treaty  Tree,  presented  by  the  late  Cephas 
G.  Child,  made  from  a  drawing  taken  on  the  spot  by 
J.  J.  Barralet,  a  few  years  before  it  was  blown  down, 
also  showing  the  regard  in  which  it  was  held. 

Penn  was  at  Upland  on  the  28th  of  9th  month,  we 
know  from  a  letter  he  addressed  to  Markham,  at  New 
Castle,  and  from  which  we  also  learn  that  the  Welcome 
had  just  departed  on  her  return  to  England.  It  is 
probable  that  it  has  never  before  been  published,  hav- 
ing been  copied  from  the  original.     (2.) 

"Upland,  ye  28,  Qbr,  1682. 
Cousin  Markham.  Upon  receipt  hereof  dispatch 
ye  Messenger  to  ye  Counties  of  St.  Jones  and  Whore- 
kills,  alias  New  Deal,  with  a  letter  to  ye  Deputies  in 
which  inclose  ye  inclosed  severally.  Be  sure  it  is  a 
trusty  Person  that    can  compass  ye    business,  which 


LANDING    AT    NEW    CASTLE    AND    PHILADELPHIA.     7/ 

done,  dispatch  hitherto  immediately,  leaving  John  Moll 
or  Peter  Aldricks  deputy  in  the  room.  If  Robert 
Greenway  be  not  past  that  sd  port,  I  would  willingly 
bespeak  with  him;  having  received  a  letter  out  of 
Maryland  yt  concerns  Freight  of  a  ship.  Pray,  let  all 
ships  clear  at  New  Castle,  ye  River  now  being  mine, 
in  wch  be  civil  to  ye  Commanders  and  for  this  year  yt 
nothing  be  taken  of  ym.  His  horse  yt  brings  ye 
bearer  is  to  go  with  Tho.  Hudson  to  Barbadoes  if  he 
be  there,  remember  my  love  to  him.  Thy  Loving  frd 
and  kinsman, 

"Wm.  Penn." 

In  this  month,  as  we  learn  from  one  of  James  Clay- 
poole's  letters,  Nicholas  More,  President  of  the  Society 
of  Free  Traders,  with  sixty  or  seventy  servants,  and 
numerous  other  passengers,  arrived  here  in  only  twenty- 
nine  days  from  England.  Another  ship  came  about 
the  same  time,  equally  fortunate  in  having  so  short  a 
trip. 


78  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    FIRST   ASSEMBLY. LIBERTY  OF  CONSCIENCE. CON- 
FERENCE   WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE. 

IDec.  and  Jan.,  1682.'] 

From  notice  given  the  previous  month  by  the 
Proprietary  and  Governor  to  the  several  Sheriffs  to 
summon  all  freeholders  in  their  respective  districts  to 
meet  and  elect  from  amongst  themselves  "  persons  of 
most  note  for  wisdom,  sobriety,  and  integrity,  to  serve 
as  their  deputies  and  representatives  in  general  assem- 
bly, to  be  held  at  Upland,  Pennsylvania,  December  4th 
next,  and  then  and  there  to  consult  with  him  for  the 
common  good  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  province  and 
adjacent  counties  of  New  Castle,  St.  Jones,  and  Whore- 
kill,  alias  Deal,"  and  of  the  result  to  make  him  a  true 
return. 

Accordingly  the  several  members  chosen,  duly  met 
agreeably  to  proclamation  at  the  time  and  place  men- 
tioned. From  the  minutes  it  is  ascertained  that 
amongst  those  present  was  Christopher  Taylor  from 
Bucks,  Nicholas  More  from  Philadelphia,  John  Sim- 
cock  from  Chester,  William  Clark  from  Deal,  Francis 
Whitwell  from  Jones's,  and  the  names  of  Griffith  Jones, 


THE    FIRST    ASSEMBLY.  79 

Luke  Watson,  William  Sample,  William  Yardley, 
Thomas  Brassy,  John  Briggs,  and  Ralph  Wethers  are 
mentioned  the  first  day  as  being  on  committees. 
Nicholas  More  was  appointed  the  following  day  presi- 
dent of  the  body. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  meeting,  this  first  General  As- 
sembly of  Pennsylvania  distinguished  itself  by  passing 
the  "  Great  Law,"  so  celebrated  for  its  remarkable 
provision  relating  to  liberty  of  conscience.  The  por- 
tions relating  thereto  we  extract : 

"  Whereas,  the  glory  of  Almighty  God,  and  the 
good  of  mankind,  is  the  reason  and  end  of  govern- 
ment, and  therefore  government,  in  itself,  is  a  venerable 
ordinance  of  God ;  and  for  as  much  as  it  is  principally 
desired  and  intended  by  the  proprietary  and  governor, 
and  the  freemen  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
territories  thereunto  belonging,  to  make  and  establish 
such  laws  as  shall  best  preserve  true  Christians  and  civil 
liberty,  in  opposition  to  all  unchristian,  licentious,  and 
unjust  practices,  whereby  God  may  have  his  due, 
Caesar  his  due,  and  the  people  their  due  from  tyranny 
and  oppression  of  the  one  side,  and  insolency  and 
licentiousness  of  the  other,  so  that  the  best  and  firmest 
foundation  may  be  laid  for  the  present  and  future  hap- 
piness of  both  the  governor  and  people  of  this  province 
and  territories  aforesaid,  and  their  posterity.  Be  it 
therefore  enacted,  by  William  Penn,  proprietary  and 
governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and   consent   of  the 


8o  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

deputies  of  the  freemen  of  this  province  and  counties 
aforesaid,  in  assembly  met,  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
same,  that  these  following  chapters  and  paragraps 
shall  be  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  territories 
thereof. 

*'  Almighty  God  being  only  Lord  of  conscience, 
father  of  lights  and  spirits,  and  the  author  as  well  as 
object  of  all  divine  knowledge,  faith  and  worship,  who 
only  can  enlighten  the  mind,  and  persuade  and  con- 
vince the  understanding  of  people,  in  due  reverence  to 
his  sovereignty  over  the  souls  of  mankind.  It  is  en- 
acted by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  no  person  now 
or  at  any  time  hereafter  living  in  the  province,  who 
shall  confess  and  acknowledge  one  Almighty  God  to 
be  the  Creator,  upholder  and  ruler  of  the  world, 
and  that  professeth  him  or  herself  obliged  in  con- 
science to  live  peaceably  and  justly  under  the  civil 
government,  shall  in  anywise  be  molested  or  prejudiced 
for  his  or  her  concientious  persuasion  or  practice,  nor 
shall  he  or  she  at  any  time  be  compelled  to  frequent  or 
maintain  any  religious  worship,  or  ministry  whatever, 
contrary  to  his  or  her  mind,  but  shall  freely  and  fully 
enjoy  his  or  her  Christian  liberty  in  that  respect,  with- 
out any  interruption  or  reflection  ;  and  if  any  person 
shall  abuse  or  deride  any  other  for  his  or  her  different 
persuasion  and  practice  in  matter  of  religion,  such 
shall  be  looked  upon  as  a  disturber  of  the  peace,  and 
be  punished  accordingly." 


THE    FIRST    ASSEMBLY.  8 1 

According  to  the  great  work  done,  the  legislature  was 
to  consist  of  two  houses,  the  members  of  which  were  to 
be  elected  by  the  freemen  of  the  province.  The  upper 
house  to  be  composed  of  three  members  from  each 
county  and  to  be  called  the  "  Provincial  Council," 
The  lower  house  to  be  composed  of  six  members  from 
each  county,  "  men  of  most  note  for  their  virtue,  wis- 
dom and  ability."  This  was  Penn's  idea  of  what  should 
constitute  the  qualification  essential  to  a  legislator,  and 
that  it  has  not  been  retained  in  our  statutes  is  a  step 
backwards,  to  be  regretted. 

The  executive  authority  was  vested  in  the  governor 
and  council,  who  were  charged  with  the  execution  of 
the  laws,  the  care  of  the  public  peace,  the  establish- 
ment and  order  of  public  schools,  instituting  courts  of 
justice,  &c.,  &c.  Every  freeman  of  the  province  was 
to  be  entitled  to  a  vote,  and  all  the  laws  relating  to 
raising  revenue  and  other  purposes  to  be  enacted  by 
the  representatives  of  the  people.  The  estates  of  aliens 
were  to  descend  to  their  legal  representatives  like  those 
of  citizens,  and  all  the  settlers  had  the  liberty  to  fish, 
fowl  and  hunt,  without  restriction  on  their  own  lands, 
and  on  all  not  enclosed.  The  Proprietary  as  chief  lord 
of  the  fee  or  as  governor  reserved  no  especial  privi- 
leges. These  briefly  enumerated  rights  with  the  liberty 
of  conscience  allowed  was  a  great  step  in  advance 
over  the  existing  laws  of  the  parent  country. 

Among  the  acts  passed,  was  the  following  given 

6 


82  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

literally,  requiring  the  year  to  commence  with  March 
as  the  first  month  :  "  And  be  it  enacted  by  the  Author- 
ity aforesaid  that  ye  day  of  ye  week  and  ye  months 
of  ye  year,  Shall  be  called  as  in  Scripture,  and  not  by 
Heathen  names,  (as  are  vulgarly  used,)  as  ye  first. 
Second  and  Third  dales  of  ye  week,  and  first,  Second 
and  Third  of  ye  year,  beginning  with  ye  day  called  Sun- 
day and  ye  month  called  March." 

An  Act  of  Union  was  also  passed  for  annexing  and 
uniting  the  counties  of  New  Castle,  Jones's,  and 
Whorekill,  alias  Deal,  to  the  province  of  Pennsylvania 
and  including  the  naturalization  of  all  foreigners  resid- 
ing within  the  aforesaid  counties  and  province.  This 
was  probably  brought  about  in  justice  to  the  Swedes, 
Finns  and  Dutch,  who,  a  few  days  before,  had  presented 
a  petition  to  Penn  requesting  that  he  would  be  pleased 
to  make  them  as  free  by  the  laws  as  any  others,  and 
that  also  their  lands  may  be  entailed  on  them  and  their 
heirs  for  ever.  The  aforesaid  was  signed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor as  done  at  "  Chester  alias  Upland  "  on  the  7th  of 
loth  month  1682.  This  is  the  earliest  mention  found 
in  any  document  of  the  place  being  called  Chester. 
Clarkson  states  that  the  change  was  made  at  the  time 
of  arrival,  forty  days  previously. 

Penn  was  now  to  make  good  what  he  had  promised 
to  "  the  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania ;  "  in  a  letter  to 
be  read  to  them  by  his  Deputy  Markham,  dated  "  Lon- 
don 8th  of  ye  month  call'd  Aprill,  1681 ;  "  only  thirty- 
four  days  after  he  had  received  his  grant.     "  You  shall 


CONFERENCE    WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE.  S^ 

be  governed  by  the  laws  of  your  own  making,  and  live  a 
free,  and  if  you  will,  a  sober  and  industrious  people.  I 
shall  not  usurp  the  right  of  any,  or  oppress  his  per- 
son. God  has  furnished  me  with  a  better  resolution, 
and  has  given  me  the  grace  to  keep  it.  In  short, 
whatever  sober  and  free  men,  can  reasonably  desire  for 
the  security  and  improvement  of  their  own  happiness, 
I  shall  heartily  comply  with." 

The  Assembly  being  over,  with  his  usual  activity, 
Penn  set  out  on  the  i  ith  for  Maryland  to  meet  Lord 
Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  entering  into  a  negotia- 
tion respecting  the  boundaries  between  the  two  prov- 
inces. For  this  purpose  he  had  sent  two  messengers, 
soon  after  his  arrival,  preparatory  to  a  conference  with 
the  latter.  They  met  at  the  hospitable  mansion  of 
Col.  Thomas  Taylor  near 'West  River  in  Annarun- 
del  county  on  the  19th,  the  time  agreed  upon. 
Penn  was  accompanied  by  the  Council  and  Lord  Bal- 
timore, by  a  considerable  retinue  of  the  principal  per- 
sons in  his  province.  The  illustrious  visitors  had  a 
spirited  debate  over  the  matters  in  dispute,  which  con- 
tinued, however,  with  courtesy  and  kindness  for  three 
days  without  arriving  at  any  satisfactory  conclusion. 
Owing  to  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  the  business 
was  deferred  with  an  understanding  to  meet  again  in 
the  following  spring.  In  a  letter  to  the  Lords  of 
Plantations,  Penn,  says  his  lordship  "  took  occasion  by 
his  civilities  to  show  him  the  greatness  of  his  power." 
It  is  probable  that  he  crossed  the   Bay  on  his   return, 


84  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

for  he  attended  a  religious  meeting  at  the  Choptank  on 
the  Eastern  shore,  and  one  or  two  others  in  that  vi- 
cinity. 

About  this  time  the  province  had  been  divided  into 
three  counties,  Philadelphia,  Bucks  and  Chester,  and 
the  territories  into  New  Castle,  Jones  and  Whorekill 
alias  Deal.  On  the  25th  Jones  was  changed  to  Kent 
and  Deal  to  Sussex,  names  they  continue  to  bear,  and 
which  is  rather  unusual  in  so  long  an  interval,  all 
three  retaining  the  same  boundaries.  Penn  also 
directed  that  Cape  Henlopen  be  called  Cape  James, 
after  his  kind  friend  the  Duke  of  York;  which  was 
afterwards  prevented  from  going  into  effect  by  the  ac- 
cession of  William  III,  prince  of  Orange. 

It  would  appear  after  Penn's  return  from  Maryland, 
he  continued  at  Chester,  where  he  dated  a  letter  to  a 
friend  on  the  29th,  in  which  he  says. — "  I  bless  the 
Lord  I  am  very  well,  and  much  satisfied  with  my 
place  and  portion  ;  yet  busy  having  much  to  do  to 
please  all,  and  yet  to  have  an  eye  to  those  that  are  not 
here  to  please  themselves."  He  also  mentions  of  hav- 
ing "  had  good  and  eminent  service  for  the  Lord"  in 
his  late  visit  to  Maryland  and  elsewhere.  Of  twenty- 
three  ships  that  arrived  in  his  province  none  miscar- 
ried, and  only  two  or  three  of  which  had  the  small- 
pox on  board.  Several  had  made  the  passage  in 
twenty-eight  days,  and  few  longer  than  six  weeks. 
Lord  Culpepper  sent  him  a  friendly  letter  on  the  23d 
from  Green  Spring,  Virginia,  in  which  he  says, "  I  con- 


CONFERENCE   WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE.  8$ 

gratulate  your  arrival  into  your  new  dominion,  where 
I  hope  things  will  answer  your  expectations,  and  that 
you  may  have  all  success  and  prosperity  therein,  are 
the  wishes  of  your  affectionate  humble  servant." 

About  this  time  Penn  wrote  a  letter  which  has 
neither  address  or  date,  probably  to  the  Earl  of  Clar- 
endon or  Sunderland,  as  "  My  noble  friend  "  is  at  the 
beginning.  It  has  been  published  in  the  Memoirs 
(vol.  IV,  p.  177-8)  of  the  Historical  Society,  from 
which  we  take  the  following  extract: 

"  I  thank  God  I  came  well  in  six  weeks  time,  find 
the  land  good,  the  air  sweet  and  serene,  the  provision 
divers  and  excellent  in  its  kind — beef,  mutton,  veal, 
pork,  all  sorts  of  admirable  fowl,  good  venison,  bread, 
butter,  beer  and  cider,  not  inferior  to  England,  and  of 
these  things  great  plenty  and  cheap.  There  seems  to 
me  no  want,  but  of  industrious  and  ingenious  people, 
to  render  these  parts  at  least  equal  to  the  best  reputed 
places  of  Europe.  I  shall  have  that  regard  to  the 
honour  and  advantage  of  the  Crown,  as  well  for 
private  profit  in  the  guidance  and  improvement  of  this 
Plantation,  that  I  hope  by  God's  assistance  in  seven 
years,  to  be  able  to  come  into  the  scale  against  planta- 
tions of  forty  years  standing.  God  Almighty  recom- 
pense to  thee  thy  many  kindnesses  to  me  and  mine." 

This  shows  that  he  entertained  a  high  opinion  of  the 
country,  and  full  confidence  in  the  prosperity  of  his 
province. 

James   Claypoole,  in  a  letter  dated  London,  9th  of 


S6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

iith  month,  1682,  and  addressed  to  his  friend,  Robert 
Turner,  of  Dublin,  thus  alludes  to  the  new  colony : 
"  As  for  any  news  from  Pensilvania  we  have  of  late 
none  but  good,  there  had  been  twenty-one  ships  ar- 
rived last  summer  in  Delaware,  and  the  country  is  very 
well  liked  for  pleasantness  by  the  people.  Wm. 
Penn  was  well  and  things  was  like  to  be  settled  to  con- 
tent and  was  received  with  a  great  deal  of  love  and 
respect  and  had  held  a  Court  in  Pensilvania  and  was 
gone  to  hold  another  at  New  Castle,  and  there  also 
the  people  readily  subjected  to  him  and  there  was  like 
to  be  a  good  understanding  and  a  fair  settlement  of 
the  bounds  between  Baltimore  and  him."  Again,  in 
another  letter  of  the  i6th,  addressed  to  his  brother, 
Edward  Claypoole,  he  hopefully  mentions  that  "here 
have  come  letters  from  Wm.  Penn  above  a  month  since 
that  he  was  well  in  health  and  was  settling  the  coun- 
try and  they  had  begun  to  build  a  city  which  they  call 
Philadelphia,  and  there  had  been  that  summer  twenty- 
one  sail  ships  arrived  there  with  passengers."  This 
confirms  the  fact  that  Philadelphia  was  named  here 
and  so  called  at  least  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  the 
previous  month,  making  it  about  three  weeks  later  than 
the  Abington  Minutes. 


penn's  correspondence.  87 


CHAPTER   VII. 

penn's    correspondence. EVIL    REPORTS    CONCERN- 
ING   HIM. 
\February,  1682.'] 

With  his  usual  activity  and  industry,  when  the 
weather  was  too  rigorous  to  be  abroad,  Penn  engaged 
himself  in  an  extensive  correspondence  relating  to  the 
affairs  of  the  province  and  the  interests  ot  which  he 
was  so  desirous  of  promoting.  The  most  troublesome 
of  all  was  the  famous  boundary  dispute  with  Lord 
Baltimore.  In  the  latter  he  had  no  mean  opponent, 
one,  perhaps,  equally  as  devoted  and  zealous  for  his 
cause.  This  bone  of  contention,  unfortunately,  con- 
tinued down  nearly  to  the  Revolution,  and  the  tedious 
litigation  involved  in  it  cost  the  parties  a  great  amount. 
From  his  letters  it  is  quite  probable  that  previous  to 
March  i  oth,  Penn  had  remained  most  of  his  time  at  Ches- 
ter. It  was  still  much  the  largest  place  in  the  province  and 
where  the  greatest  conveniences  abounded.  Philadel- 
phia, the  future  metropolis,  and  now  one  of  the  great 
cities  of  the  world,  had  only  sprung  into  being  within 
a  few  months,  and  must  still  be  wanting  in  many  of  the 
comforts  that  are  to  be  found  in  longer  established  com- 
munities. 


88  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Under  date  of  Chester,  5th  of  12th  month,  1682,  we 
find  no  less  than  three  letters  written  by  Penn,  all  of 
considerable  length  and  of  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
The  want  of  space  compels  us  reluctantly  to  make  ex- 
tracts. 

"  I  was  very  glad,"  he  writes  to  Lord  Culpepper,  "  to 
hear  of  thy  arrival,  not  less  that  there  was  no  need  of 
it.  Pray  stay,  and  let  us  be  the  better  for  thy  coming. 
There  is  more  room  for  parts  with  less  envy,  as  well 
as  more  need  of  them :  and  to  be  happy  in  solitude, 
is  to  live  of  a  man's  own,  and  to  be  less  a  debtor  to 
the  contributions  of  others.  I  am  mightily  taken  with 
this  part  of  the  world :  here  is  a  great  deal  of  nature, 
which  is  to  be  preferred  to  base  art,  and  methinks  that 
simplicity  with  enough,  is  gold  to  lacker,  compared  to 
European  cunning.  I  like  it  so  well,  that  a  plentiful 
estate,  and  a  great  acquaintance  on  the  other  side  have 
no  charms  to  remove ;  my  family  being  once  fixed  with 
me,  and  if  no  other  thing  occur,  I  am  like  to  be  an 
adopted  American. 

"  Our  province  thrives  with  people,  our  next  increase 
will  be  the  fruit  of  their  labour.  Time,  the  maturer  of 
things  below  will  give  th3  best  account  of  this  coun- 
try. Our  heads  are  dull,  what  fineness  transplantation 
will  give,  I  know  not;  but  our  hearts  are  good  and 
our  hands  are  strong.  I  hear  thou  intendest  a  progress 
into  Maryland  this  summer.  If  this  place  deserve  a 
share  of  it,  all  that  I  can  command  shall  bid  thee  wel- 
come.      I  am,  thou  knowest  an  unceremonious  man ; 


penn's  correspondence.  89 

but  I  profess  myself  a  man  of  Christian  decency,  and 
besides,  a  relation  by  my  wife,  whose  great  grand- 
mother, was  thy  great-aunt." 

Thomas,  the  second  Lord  Culpepper,  was  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  Virginia,  and  had  recently  arrived  there 
as  governor  of  that  colony,  and  this  letter  was  sent  in 
reply  to  one  of  December  23d  last. 

To  Lord  Hyde :  "  My  Noble  Friend,  I  humbly  take 
this  opportunity  by  a  gentleman  of  Virginia,  Colonel 
Hill,  to  pay  my  sincere  respects,  beseeching  God  to 
remember  and  retaliate  to  thee  and  thine  the  many 
favours  I  am  indebted  to  thee.  I  thank  God  I  am  very 
well  and  the  Province  thrives.  I  hope  the  Crown  will 
sensibly  receive  honour  and  credit,  and  profit  by  it. 
But  humanely  speaking,  it  will  much  depend  upon  the 
benign  influence  of  thy  power  and  goodness ;  and 
there  I  humbly  leave  it,  as  thence  in  a  great  measure  I 
originally  fetched  it. 

•'  In  my  last  per  a  Maryland  conveyance,  I  sent  a 
letter  with  one  to  the  Duke.  The  draught  of  the 
bounds  is  in  my  agent's  hands,  I  most  humbly  pray 
thy  favour  in  its  despatch.  The  planters  must  resort  to 
those  two  counties.  The  quitrent  is  a  penny  per  acre, 
formerly  little  more  than  a  farthing  per  acre.  I  have 
ordered  two  manors  for  the  Duke,  of  ten  thousand 
acres  a  piece  and  intend  two  more.  Their  value  be- 
sides the  quitrent,  will  be  great  in  a  few  years. 

**  Pray  let  Pennsylvania  furnish  the  King,  the  Duke 
and  thyself,  with  beavers  and  otters  for  hats  and  muffs. 


90  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

I  have  sent  some  of  each  accordingly.     Tis  the  heart 
not  the  gift  that  gives  acceptance." 

Lord  Hyde  was  the  second  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Clarendon,  and  held  high  offices  under  Charles,  James 
and  Queen  Anne.  He  was  esteemed  an  honorable 
man  and  regarded  as  a  sincere  friend  to  Penn. 

Among  the  manuscripts  of  the  Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania,  is  to  be  found  a  copy  of  an  original 
letter  of  six  compact  pages,  written  by  Penn  at "  Chester 
ye  5th,  12  mo.  1682;"  and  addressed  to  Jasper 
Yates,  who  had  unfavorably  reported  him.  The  Gov- 
ernor here  makes  a  vigorous  defence  and  thrusts  at 
him  a  most  withering  rebuke.  A  few  lines  of  this 
letter  are  given  in  a  Life  of  Penn  with  the  remark  that 
they  were  "  addressed  to  a  friend  who  had  unduly  re- 
flected on  him."  An  evident  attempt  to  suppress  the 
name.  A  biographer,  like  an  artist,  should  not  neglect 
the  shadows  in  finishing  his  picture. 

"  The  power,"  remarks  Penn,  "  I  have  by  Patent 
runs  thus :  That  I  and  my  Heirs,  with  the  assent  of 
the  Freemen  or  their  Deputies  from  time  to  time  may 
make  Laws,  so  as  they  be  not  repugnant  to  the  Allegi- 
ance we  owe  to  the  king  as  Sovereign.  This  has 
been  often  flung  at  us,  viz  :  If  you  Quakers  had  it  in 
your  power,  none  should  have  a  part  in  the  Govern- 
ment, but  those  of  your  own  way.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  all  that  are  freemen  may  choose  or  be  chosen 
Members  of  the  Provincial  Council  and  General  As- 
sembly,   and    that    I    and    my  Heir  have  only  three 


PENNS    CORRESPONDENCE.  9 1 

voices  in  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  in  case  they 
should  outnumber  us  in  vote  we  are  gone,  and  this 
having  been  Hke  to  be  done  the  last  Assembly,  in 
chusing  of  a  Speaker.  Frrends  carrying  it  but  by  one 
voice,  and  that  through  the  absence  of  two  of  the 
other  side  that  were  not  Friends.  Several  of  them 
lamented  that  I  have  given  so  much  power  away  as 
I  have  done.  At  least,  till  Truth's  interest  had  been 
better  settled,  and  desire  me  to  accept  of  it  again, 
saying  that  as  God  so  signally  cast  it  into  my  hand,  and 
they  believe  for  a  purpose  of  Glory  to  his  Name, 
and  for  the  good  of  his  People. 

"  I  am  day  and  night  spending  my  life,  my  time, 
my  money,  and  am  not  sixpence  enriched  by  this 
greatness  ;  costs  in  getting,  settling,  transportation  and 
maintainance  now  in  a  public  manner  at  my  own  charge 
duly  considered,  to  say  nothing  of  my  hazard,  and 
the  distance  I  am  from  a  considerable  estate,  and 
which  is  more,  my  dear  wife  and  poor  children.  If 
Friends  here  keep  to  God,  and  in  the  justice,  mercy, 
equity  and  fear  of  the  Lord,  their  enemy  will  be  their 
footstool.  If  not,  their  Heirs  and  my  Heirs  too  will 
loose  all,  and  desolation  will  follow. 

"  No,  Jasper,  Thy  conceit  is  neither  religious,  politi- 
cal nor  equal,  and  without  high  words,  I  disregard  it 
as  meddling,  intruding  and  presumptous.  So  Jasper, 
desiring  thou  mayest  act  more  righteously,  than  to 
smite  the  innocent  behind  his  back  and  thy  suffering 
Brother,  too,  and  that  in  a  wrong  matter  and   upon  a 


92  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

false  or  an  impossible  ground,  I  take  my  leave  and 
rest.     Thy  ancient  though  grieved  Friend." 

Jasper  Yates,  to  whom  this  reply  was  made,  came 
from  Yorkshire,  and  had  received  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion and  entered  on  the  profession  of  the  law.  We 
learn  from  Martin's  History  of  Chester  that  he  was 
married  to  Catharine,  daughter  of  James  Sandeland, 
and  became  an  extensive  landholder  there.  He  was 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  from  1705 
to  171 5,  and  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Council  till 
the  time  of  his  death,  about  1720.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  very  Active  in  having  Chester  made  the  seat  of 
government,  and  his  failure  therein,  which  it  is  likely 
occurred  at  that  time,  may  have  been  one  of  the 
causes  that  led  to  this  difference  with  Penn.  His 
speculations  proved  unfortunate. 

Lord  Baltimore  on  the  8th  communicated  to  the 
Marquis  of  Halifax  the  account  of  his  late  conference 
with  Penn  respecting  the  boundaries,  and  of  a  previous 
one  with  Markham.  He  had  also  sent  another  in 
December,  immediately  after  the  meeting,  in  which  he 
states  that  it  was  held  "  at  the  house  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Tailler,  in  the  Ridge,  in  Ann  Arundell  Coun- 
ty." Copies  of  which  have  been  preserved  in  the 
State  Paper  Office,  London. 

Under  date  of  the  1 5th  of  this  month,  Penn  ad- 
dressed a  note  "  For  Capt  William  Markham,  Deputy 
Governor,"  who,  it  would  appear,  was  still  residing  at 
New  Castle,  in  which  he  says,  "  Inclosed  is  an  answer 


penn's  correspondence.  93 

to  the  Justices  below,  but  remember  that  the  twelve 
must  be  chosen  for  the  Provincial  Council  in  pursu- 
ance of  the  writt,  and  after  that,  a  petition  to  me  that 
3  A,  B,  C,  should  be  for  the  Council  and  the  other  9 
for  the  Assembly,  for  4  and  8  will  not  allow  of  a  yearly- 
rotation  of  j/3,  as  3  and  9,  then  the  Council  will  be  18, 
a  good  number  at  present,  and  54  for  the  Assembly. 
The  3d  Article  informs  thee  in  the  charter,  let  all  that 
is  done  be  the  Act  of  the  people  and  so  it  will  be 
safe."  (2.) 

Although  at  a  considerable  distance  from  his  family, 
home  and  intimate  friends,  and  assiduously  engaged 
here  in  promoting  the  great  objects  of  his  mission, 
namely,  founding  an  asylum  for  the  oppressed  or  per- 
secuted of  all  nations ;  one  would  scarce  think  that 
such  a  one  would  be  attacked  abroad  with  all  the 
power  that  malice  and  envy  could  suggest.  The 
difficulties  that  beset  him  here,  with  those  that  arose  in 
the  accomplishment  of  his  projects,  were  sufficient,  nay, 
more  than  sufficient  to  weary  the  life  of  an  ordinary 
mortal.  Faith  in  the  integrity  of  his  principles  alone 
must  have  sustained  him  amidst  the  trials  and  vicissi- 
tudes of  an  eventful  career.  In  corroboration,  we  give 
extracts  from  a  letter  by  George  Hutcheson,  dated 
"Sheffield,  17th  of  12  mo.  '82;"  and  addressed  *'To 
my  esteemed  ffi-iend  William  Penn  at  Buckingham  in 
Pensilvania,  in  America."  With  this  and  occasionally 
others  we  have  taken  the  liberty  to  modernize  the 
phraseology. 


94  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"  I  can  say  in  truth  my  heart  is  made  glad  and  my 
very  soul  refreshed  in  the  news  that  of  late  is  come  to 
hand,  concerning  thy  safe  arrival  with  the  rest  of  our 
dear  friends  in  America,  and  of  the  joyful  reception  of 
thee  by  the  inhabitants,  and  more  especially  in  that  I 
understand  that  blessed  power  and  precious  life  by 
which  we  have  been  quickened  and  raised  up  together. 
Methought  I  was  with  you  in  your  first  meetings  after 
thou  came  to  land,  and  in  the  court  house  and  in 
measure  partook  of  the  joy  of  the  wilderness  and  of 
that  gladness  ;  that  it  break  forth  of  the  solitary  and 
desolate  land  as  also  with  them  who  were  once  in  a 
kind  of  despair,  from  living  to  see  themselves  visited 
by  so  many  of  their  dear  and  elder  brethern  and  to 
enjoy  their  society  in  those  remote  parts  of  the 
world. 

"  I  have  been  concerned  not  a  little,  to  vindicate  thy 
reputation  from  slanderous  and  malicious  tongues  who 
had  sent  it  throughout  the  nation  that  thou  wast  dead 
and  a  Jesuit,  or  had  declared  thyself  upon  thy  death 
bed  thou  wast  a  Roman  Catholic,  it  was  not  a  few 
combats  I  had  with  persons  to  whom  I  said  I  knew  thee 
better  than  to  believe  such  ridiculous  stories,  or  to 
heed  them  any  more  than  a  straw  under  my  foot. 
Since  Philip  Ford  searched  and  found  out  the  author 
to  be  Thomas  Hicks,  of  which  I  was  glad,  since  it  must 
have  a  father  that  it  fell  through  the  just  judgment  of 
God  upon  him.  I  got  it  at  the  coffee  house  where  the 
slander    had   come   from  in  the   Gazette.  I  mean  first 


PENNS    CORRESPONDENCE.  95 

a  copy  of  thy  last  letter  and  then  the  printed  paper." 

By  Buckingham  was  probably  meant  Pennsbury,  as 
Bucks  county  at  first  was  occasionally  so  called,  as  may 
be  noticed  in  the  Colonial  Records.  In  the  following 
month  we  know  meetings  for  worship  were  held  there 
in  the  "  Governor's  house."  There  can  probably  be  no 
other  explanation  given  for  this  address. 

To  Dr.  Smith's  History  of  Delaware  county  (p.  143) 
we  are  indebted  for  the  mode  of  attestation  adopted 
for  jurors  the  22d  of  this  month,  as  entered  in  the 
Court  Records  at  New  Castle.  It  mentions  that  the 
following  form  was  to  be  used  in  the  place  of  an  oath 
as  delivered  in  Court  by  "  ye  Honble  William  Penn, 
vizt:" 

"  You  solemnly  promise  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
this  Court  that  you  will  justly  try  and  deliver  in  your 
verdict  in  all  cases  depending,  that  shall  be  brought 
before  you  during  this  session  of  Court  according  to 
evidence  and  the  laws  of  this  government  to  the  best 
of  your  understanding." 

To  the  popular  form  he  had  conscientious  scruples, 
hence  the  change  which  by  his  direction  must  have 
been  introduced  into  all  the  other  courts  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  his  government. 


96  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

PENN'S    first    meeting    in    council    at    PHILADELPHIA. 

— friends'  meetings. 
\_March  and  April,  1683  7)^ 

Vv'e  now  enter  into  the  new  year  beginning  with 
March  as  the  first  month,  which  we  have  seen  the 
Assembly  recognized  by  an  Act  based  on  the  prevail- 
ing custom  of  the  parent  country,  and  which  remained 
in  force  till  abolished  by  Parliament  in  1752.  Hence 
at  that  period  the  change  of  old  to  new  style.  Histo- 
rians have  deemed  it  best  to  use  the  same  as  they 
stand,  as  less  liable  to  mistakes,  and  such  are  our  own 
views  from  experience.  The  intelligent  reader,  there- 
fore, should  bear  this  in  mind  and  a  misunderstanding 
prevented. 

The  Governor  held  his  first  Council  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  loth.  Amongst  those  present  were  William 
Markham,  Christopher  Taylor,  Thomas  Holme,  Lasse 
Cock,  William  Biles,  James  Harrison  and  John 
Richardson.  The  Sheriffs  of  the  respective  counties 
were  present:  John  Test  for  Philadelphia,  Thomas 
Usher  for  Chester,  Richard  Noble  for  Bucks,  Edmund 
Cantwell  for  New  Castle,  Peter  Bawcomb  for  Kent,  and 
John  Vines  for  Sussex. 


PENNS    FIRST    COUNCIL    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  9/ 

On  the  1 2th  the  Council  met  again  and  the  Gover- 
nor present.  Nicholas  More,  President  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Free  Traders,  was  called  before  them  for 
speaking  in  a  public  house  against  the  Governor,  Pro- 
vincial Council  and  Assembly,  for  which  he  apolo- 
gized. "  However,  his  discourse  being  unreasonable 
and  imprudent,  he  was  exhorted  to  prevent  the  like  in 
future."  On  this  day  the  Assembly  likewise  met  in 
Philadelphia,  under  a  new  election.  It  was  agreed  in 
conference  with  the  Council  on  the  following  day 
"  That  Twelve  makes  a  Quorum  in  all  business  relating 
to  the  former  part  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  articles  of  the 
Charter." 

The  Council  on  the  14th  resolved  itself  into  a  Grand 
Committee,  Markham  acting  as  Chairman  in  the 
absence  of  the  Governor  on  urgent  business.  Penn 
was  present  the  next  day  when  it  was  "  Ordered  that 
John  Richardson,  one  of  the  Council  pay  five  shillings 
for  being  disordered  in  drink  and  be  reproved."  We 
presume  the  reproof  was  made  by  Penn,  a  report 
of  which  would  have  been  interesting. 

On  the  20th,  the  petition  of  Nathaniel  Allen  was 
read,  showing  he  had  sold  a  servant  to  Henry  Bowman 
for  £6  Sterling  and  six  hundred  pounds  of  beef,  in- 
cluding the  hide  and  tallow,  which  he  delayed  to  pay, 
and  likewise  that  the  said  Bowman  and  Walter  Hum- 
phrey had  hired  a  boat  of  the  petitioner  for  only  one 
month,  but  had  kept  the  same  for  eighteen  weeks  to  his 
great  prejudice.     It  was  ordered  that  William  Clarke, 


98  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

John  Simcox,  and  James  Harrison  speak  to  the  said 
Bowman  concerning  the  matter. 

Among  the  Bills  proposed  for  the  following  day,  was 
one  that  "  Hoggs  be  ringed."  The  office  of  Coroner  to 
be  established  in  each  county  and  Grand  Juries  be  held 
twice  a  year.  A  written  message  was  sent  in  by  the 
Assembly  thanking  the  Governor  for  his  kind  speech 
to  them  the  day  before,  and  gratefully  embracing  his 
offer  as  to  what  they  desired  inserted  into  the  Charter. 

On  the  23d,  among  other  things  it  was  "  Ordered 
that  the  seal  of  Philadelphia  be  the  Anchor;  of  the 
County  of  Bucks  a  Tree  and  a  Vine,  of  the  County  of 
Chester,  a  Plow;  of  the  County  of  New  Castle,  a 
Castle ;  of  the  County  of  Kent,  Three  Ears  of  Indian 
Corn ;  of  the  County  of  Sussex,  One  Wheat  Sheaf; " 
when  they  adjourned  till  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

During  March  the  Council  held  its  meetings  fifteen 
days,  adjourning  on  the  3  ist  till  the  2d  of  the  following 
month.  Penn  was  present  during  the  whole  session, 
which  was  held  in  Philadelphia,  and  is  probably  the 
earliest  mention  of  the  name  to  be  found  in  the  official 
proceedings  of  the  Proprietary  government. 

A  second  letter  was  sent  to  Penn  by  George  Hutch- 
eson,  dated  from  London  the  i8th  of  the  present 
month,  respecting  the  various  evil  reports  in  circulation 
there  respecting  his  character  and  designs.  We  may 
well  imagine  the  Governor's  feelings  on  receipt  of  such 
information !  The  whole  is  nearly  given  with  a  slight 
change  in  the  style. 


PENN  S    FIRST   COUNCIL    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  99 

"  Since  I  came  here  to  assist  friends  in  their  voyage 
I  still  find  thy  person  the  butt  for  the  arrows  of  malice 
to  be  shot  at  and  thy  reputation  endeavored  to  be  so 
blasted.  I  cannot  but  be  free  with  whom  I  love  and 
desire  the  welfare  of,  and  signify  what  men  say  of  them 
as  Christ  desired  knowing  the  good  effects  it  may  pro- 
duce in  them  that  can  bear  both  good  and  bad  report. 
Thou  art  reflected  upon  in  respect  to  thy  laws  or  gov- 
ernment, one  particularly  that  is  instanced,  is  the  order 
that  none  shall  teach  but  per  order  from  thee  which 
looks  like  this  in  England,  without  license  for  which 
friends  now  suffer. 

"  I  heard  thee  yesterday  reviled  upon  the  wharf  by 
the  searchers  for  the  Customs,  and  when  I  told  them 
one  tale  was  good  till  another  was  told.  One  answered 
it  was  brought  by  one  of  our  own  tribe :  I  confess  I 
heard  it  the  same  day  from  a  friend,  that  some  had  re- 
flected on  him  because  he  would  not  revile  thee  at  the 
same  rate  they  did  for  it.  There  is  another  thing  I 
judge  not  worth  troubling  thee  about  especially  at 
present,  because  I  know  not  the  authors  shall  be  silent, 
and  may  possibly  ere  long  see  thy  face,  who  in  haste 
remains  thy  true  friend." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  much  the  larger  proportion 
of  the  emigrants  into  the  colony  since  the  grant  of 
the  Royal  Charter  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 
They  sought  here  to  enjoy  unmolested  the  principles 
and  opinions  they  held.  Chiefly  owing  to  this  cause 
there  was  a  continuous  increase  for  a  number  of  years, 


100  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

which  greatly  helped  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
country.  Many  of  those  belonged  to  the  middle 
classes,  intelligent  and  of  industrious  and  economical 
habits  ;  the  very  kind  to  lay  the  foundations  for  a 
great  future  commonwealth.  Little  did  they  then  ex- 
pect as  they  felled  the  forests,  built  humble  homes  and 
turned  the  virgin  soil,  what  great  natural  wealth  still 
lay  uncovered. 

The  following  interesting  communication  in  regard 
to  the  Friends'  Meetings  at  this  time  in  Pennsylvania, 
is  taken  from  a  letter  dated  the  17th  of  ist  month, 
1683,  and  addressed  to  their  brethern  in  Great  Britain, 
signed  by  William  Penn,  S.  Jennings,  Christ.  Taylor, 
James  Harrison  and  others. 

"  There  is  one  at  Falls,  one  at  the  Governor's  house, 
one  at  Colchester  river,  all  in  the  county  of  Bucks : 
one  at  Tawcony,  one  at  Philadelphia,  both  in  that 
county:  one  at  Darby  at  John  Blunston's,  one  at 
Chester,  one  at  Ridley  at  J.  Simcock's,  and  one  at 
Wm.  Ruse's  at  Chichester,  in  Cheshire.  There  be 
three  monthly  meetings  of  men  and  women,  for  truth's 
service:  in  the  county  of  Chester  one,  in  the  county  of 
Philadelphia  another,  and  in  the  county  of  Bucks 
another.  And  we  intend  a  yearly  meeting  in  the  third 
month  next.  Here  our  care  is,  as  it  was  in  our  native 
land,  that  we  may  serve  the  Lord's  truth  and  people." 

The  Governor's  house  was  undoubtedly  at  Penns- 
bury ;  by  Colchester  river  the  Neshaminy  or  Middle- 
town  meeting  is  meant,  which  was  then  in  existence. 


PENNS    FIRST    COUNCIL    IN    PHILADELPHIA.         10 1 

and  Cheshire  was  strangely  substituted  for  Chester 
county.  Of  these  nine  meetings,  the  number  I  infer, 
six  must  have  been  established  since  the  arrival  of 
Penn,  that  is  within  a  period  of  less  than  five  months, 
showing  m  so  short  a  time  an  extraordinary  increase. 
Chiefly  brought  about  by  the  unceasing  exertions  of 
the  Proprietary.  This  was  far  more  than  had  been 
previously  done  by  the  Dutch,  Swedes  and  English, 
within  the  same  limits  in  the  rule  of  half  a  century. 

The  Governor  and  Council  met  again  in  Philadel- 
phia on  the  2d  of  2d  month.  The  Charter  of  the 
Province  was  read  in  the  evening  and  signed,  sealed 
and  delivered  by  the  Proprietary  for  the  inhabitants  to 
James  Harrison  and  the  Speaker,  who  were  ordered 
to  return  the  former  one  with  the  unanimous  thanks 
of  the  House.  The  Council  continued  in  session  on 
the  3d  and  4th,  when  they  adjourned  till  the  2d  of  3d 
month. 


102  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ANOTHER    MEETING    WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE. PUR- 
CHASES   FROM    THE    INDIANS. 
IMay  and  June,  i68j.'] 

The  next  Council  held  by  Penn  was  at  Lewis  in 
Sussex  county  on  the  2d  of  3d  month.  He  informed 
the  members  that  he  had  made  choice  of  Nicholas 
More  to  be  secretary,  who  took  the  place  accordingly- 
After  the  business  had  been  gone  through  with,  they 
adjourned  till  the  23d,  when  they  met  in  Philadelphia, 
and  continued  in  session  the  following  day. 

On  the  20th,  a  letter  was  sent  by  Ephraim  Herman 
to  Penn  from  New  Castle,  in  which  he  says,  "  Last 
night  came  here  from  the  head  of  the  Bay  the  Somer- 
•siit  county  '{pQtM  inerchant,  who  sold  your  honor  the 
•porjc.  some,  si^  weeks  ago,  who  brings  certain  intelli- 
'•genOe  -that  the.  Lords  Culpepper  and  Baltimore,  have 
designed  to  be  this  day  at  Captain  Wards,  and  to- 
morrow or  Wednesday  hither  with  a  great  number  of 
attendants,  of  which  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  acquaint 
your  honor." 

A  few  days  later  Penn  received  the  following  letter 
from  Lord  Baltimore  announcing  his  coming : 

"  Most  Honorable  Friend. — Being  come  this  day  to 


MEETING    WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE.  IO3 

Sassafras  River,  and  resolving  to-morrow  to  be  at  the 
head  of  the  Elk,  I  remembered  my  promise  to  you  in 
my  letter  of  the  28th  of  the  last  month;  and  now  send 
one  of  my  secretaries  and  kinsmen,  Mr.  John  Darnal 
with  this  salute.  Assuring  you,  that  I  should  wil- 
lingly carry  it  myself,  had  you  thought  a  visit  from  me 
convenient :  but  being  sensible,  that  you  have  desired 
none  may  pass  until  we  have  a  private  conference.  I 
shall  wait  at  the  head  of  my  Bay,  expecting  the  favor 
you  premised  me  by  that  letter  you  sent  me  by  your 
servant ;  hoping  that  I  have  no  wise  failed  in  point  of 
time,  nor  in  any  other  respect  due  to  you  from  Sir 
"  Your  affectionate  friend  to  serve  you, 

**C.  Baltimore. 
From  Mr.  James  Frisby's  on  Sassafras  River,  23d 
of  May,  1683. 

Addressed  "  For  my  Hond.  friend  William  Penn, 
Esq.  at  Philadelphia,  Pensilvania."     (i.) 

In  regard  to  this  meeting  and  the  business  connected 
therewith,  Penn  gives  the  following  interesting  ac- 
count: 

"  When  the  spring  came  I  sent  an  express  to  pray 
the  time  and  place,  when  and  where  I  should  meet  him, 
to  effect^the  business,  we  adjourned  at  that  time.  I 
followed  close  upon  the  messenger,  that  no  time  might 
be  lost.  But  the  expectation,  he  twice  had,  of  the 
Lord  Culpepper's  visit,  disappointed  any  meeting  on 
our  affairs,  till  the  month  called  May ;  he  then  sent 
three  gentlemen  to  let  me  know,  he  would  meet  me  at 


104  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  head  of  the  bay  of  Chesapeake  ;  I  was  then  in 
treaty  with  the  kings  of  the  natives  for  land ;  but  three 
days  after  we  met  ten  miles  from  New  Castle,  which  is 
thirty  from  the  bay.  I  invited  him  to  the  town,  where 
having  entertained  him,  as  well  as  the  town  could 
afford,  on  so  little  notice,  and  finding  him  only  desirous 
of  speaking  with  me  privately,  I  pressed  that  we  might, 
at  our  distinct  lodgings,  sit  severally  with  our  councils, 
and  treat  by  way  of  written  memorials  ;  which  would 
prevent  the  mistakes,  or  abuses,  that  may  follow  from 
ill  designs,  or  ill  memory ;  but  he  avoided  it,  saying, 
'  He  was  not  well,  and  the  weather  sultry,  and  would 
return  with  what  speed  he  could,  resemng  any  other 
treaty  to  another  season.' — Thus  we  parted,  at  that 
time.  I  had  been  before  told  by  divers,  that  Lord 
Baltimore  had  issued  forth  a  proclamation,  to  invite 
people,  by  lower  prices,  and  greater  quantities  of  land, 
to  plant  in  the  lower  counties ;  in  which  the  Duke's 
goodness  had  interested  me,  as  an  inseparable  benefit 
to  this  whole  province." 

From  a  letter  by  Lord  Baltimore,  dated  June  i  ith, 
to  Mr.  Blathwayte  in  London,  we  learn  that  the  afore- 
said private  conference  at  New  Castle  took  place  on 
the  29th. 

Among  the  many  interesting  incidents  connected 
with  Penn's  residence  in  America,  the  following  is  of 
too  curious  a  nature  to  let  pass  by,  and  does  honor  to 
his  generosity.  The  first  child  born  of  English  par- 
ents in  Philadelphia  was  John  Key,  who  first  saw  the 


MEETING    WITH    LORD    BALTIMORE.  IO5 

light  in  a  cave  near  the  foot  of  Sassafras,  now  better 
known  as  Race  street.  For  this  distinction  the  Gov- 
ernor presented  him  with  a  warrant  the  26th  of  3d 
month,  1683,  for  a  lot  of  ground,  49^  feet  front  and 
306  feet  deep,  on  the  south  side  of  Sassafras  street, 
west  of  Fourth.  Mention  is  made  therein  as  "  granted 
unto  John  Key,  then  an  infant,  being  ye  first  born  in  ye 
city  of  Philadelphia."  He  received,  his  patent  for  it 
in  17 1 3,  and  afterwards  sold  it  and  removed  to  Ken- 
net  in  Chester  county,  where  he  died  in  1 767,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  85  years. 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  by  the  Governor 
in  Philadelphia,  on  the  6th,  8th,  9th,  nth,  20th  and 
26th  of  4th  month,  but  nothing  of  special  interest  ap- 
pears to  have  been  transacted.  The  principal  object 
in  making  such  statements,  is  to  show  as  far  as  can 
be  ascertained  the  Proprietary's  daily  movements.  At- 
tention to  this  has  enabled  us  to  correct  several  mis- 
statements. 

Christopher  Taylor, James  Harrison,  Thomas  Holme 
and  Thomas  Winne  were  appointed  by  Penn,  Commis- 
sioners to  treat  with  West  Jersey,  "  concerning  the 
satisfaction  I  have  demanded  in  a  letter  to  the  said 
Governor  and  Council  for  certain  great  wrongs  and  in- 
justice done  unto  me  and  this  province  by  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  their  colony.  As  also  to  settle  a  right 
understanding  between  me  and  them  about  the  trade 
and  the  islands  therein  and  whatsoever  you  shall  do 
herein,  I  do  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  and  this   shall 


I06  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

be  to  you  a  sufficient  credential.  Given  at  Philadel- 
phia the  nth  of  the  4th  month,  the  35th  year  of  the 
reign  of  the  King,  and  the  third  of  my  Govern- 
ment." 

To  the  aforesaid  he  gave  written  instructions,  in 
which  he  says,  "  So  soon  as  you  shall  arrive  in 
Burlington,  take  care  to  make  known  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council,  That  you  are  sent  in  my  name, 
to  treat  with  them  about  some  provincial  business, 
and  therefore  desire  a  time  that  you  may  be  heard." 
He  had  sent  the  same  day  a  letter  to  the  Governor  of 
that  province  about  the  aforesaid  grievances,  a  copy  of 
which  is  in  the  State  Paper  Office,  London. 

About  the  26th  of  the  previous  month,  Penn  states 
that  he  was  in  treaty  with  several  Indian  kings  for 
land,  with  what  result  is  explained  in  the  following 
grants : 

Tamanen  on  the  23d  of  this  month  (June)  conveys 
to  the  Proprietary  all  his  lands  lying  between  the 
Pennepack  and  Neshaminy  creeks  for  a  consideration. 
Essepenaike  and  Swanpees  the  same  day  grant  all 
their  rights  to  the  lands  situated  between  the  aforesaid 
streams,  and  extending  backwards  from  the  same  two 
days  journey  with  a  horse,  and  is  further  confirmed  by 
Tamanen  and  Metamequan.  On  the  25  th,  Winge- 
bone  disposes  of  all  his  lands  lying  on  the  west  side  of 
Schuylkill,  beginning  at  the  first  falls,  thence  all  along 
upon  said  river  and  backwards  of  the  same  as  far  as 
his  right  goes. 


PURCHASES    FROM    THE    INDIANS.  lO/ 

In  an  address  prepared  by  James  Logan  and  de- 
livered to  Sassoonan,  alias  Allumapees,  in  Philadelphia, 
August  13,  1 73 1,  mention  is  made  of  an  answer  by 
the  former,  in  which  he  says  that  he  understands  every 
word  that  was  said,  and  remembers  when  William  Penn 
went  up  to  Perkasie  to  meet  the  Indians  there,  and  that 
Tamany,  Menanget  and  Hetkoquean  were  present.  ( i .) 
As  Perkasie  is  situated  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
Neshaminy,  it  is  very  probable  that  on  this  occasion 
the  purchases  relating  to  the  aforesaid  conveyances 
were  made,  and  the  same  to  which  Penn  referred  when 
speaking  about  his  business  with  Lord  Baltimore.  In 
further  confirmation,  these  purchases  are  the  earliest 
known  to  have  been  made  by  him  with  the  Indians  for 
lands.  The  originals  of  these  deeds  may  be  seen  in 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Harrisburg. 
Tamanen's  or  Taminy's  signature  is  a  rude  representa- 
tion of  a  rattlesnake.  A  receipt  and  an  endorsement 
on  them  appears  to  be  in  the  Governor's  handwriting 

On  the  24th,  Lord  Baltimore  sent  a  lengthy  letter 
to  Penn  in  reference  to  the  boundaries,  the  contents 
being  equivalent  to  about  eight  pages  of  foolscap.  It 
is  dated  "  Mattapany,"  and  styles  him  "  My  most 
Hon'd  friend."     A  few  extracts  are  selected,  (i.) 

"  I  am,  therefore,  in  a  most  particular  manner, 
obliged  to  you  for  the  kindness  expressed  by  your  last 
letters  of  the  6th,  and  9th  instant,  which  came  to  my 
hands  yesterday  at  Port  Tobacco  in  Charles  county ; 
some  sixty  miles  from    Patuxent,  where    I    am    now 


I08  -  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

newly  come,  chiefly  to  return  you  my  answer,  and 
very  affectionately  to  acknowledge  your  expressions  of 
respects  and  friendship  to  me,  for  which  I  will  ever  be 
your  debtor.  In  the  next  place  I  cannot  but  signify 
my  trouble  to  understand  by  one  of  yours,  that  mine 
of  the  31st  ultimo  came  not  to  your  hands  till  the  6th 
instant,  which  must  be  a  supine  neglect  in  John  Thom- 
son, Clerk  of  Cecil  county  to  whom  I  gave  that  letter 
the  same  day  it  was  written  with  strict  charge,  and 
command  the  messenger  to  deliver  it  the  next  day  to 
your  cousin  Capt.  Markham,  which  if  he  did  not,  he 
shall  be  severely  reprehended  for  his  contempt  and 
carelessness  therein, 

"  In  your  letter  of  the  6th  instant  you  put  me  in 
mind  of  the  obligations  you  know  I  lie  under.  First 
for  the  honor  and  favor  you  afforded  me  in  despatching 
your  secretary  with  two  other  gentlemen  to  acquaint 
me  with  your  arrival  and  with  the  assurance  of  your 
respect  and  friendship,  and  secondly  for  the  long  and 
unpleasant  journey  you  took  in  a  cold  season  in  order 
to  give  me  further  pledges  of  a  friendly  agreement  and 
neighborhood.  As  I  was  highly  sensible  of  your  re- 
spect, kindness,  and  friendship  therein." 

A  court  was  held  at  Chester  for  said  county  on  the 
27th,  at  which,  as  the  records  inform  us,  "  William 
Penn,  Esqr.  Proprietary  and  Governor "  presided. 
That  a  Governor  should  act  in  the  official  capacity  of  a 
Judge  in  the  trial  of  cases  appears  at  this  day  strange. 
It  was  a  feudal  prerogative  from  the  parent  country,  and 
in  the  hands  of  tyrants  a  power  liable  to  gross  abuse. 


MORE    INDIAN    PURCHASES.  IO9 


CHAPTER    X. 

MORE    INDIAN    PURCHASES. PENNSBURY. FURTHER 

ACCOUNTS     OF    THE    PROVINCE. 

After  holding  a  Council  at  Philadelphia  on  the  4th 
of  5th  month,  we  can  find  nothing  of  interest  concern- 
ing Penn  till  the  14th,  when  a  grant  was  made  for  a 
purchase  of  lands  from  Secane  and  Idquoquehan, 
"  Indian  shackamakers,"  for  all  the  lands  lying  be- 
tween Maniaunk  or  Schuylkill  river  and  Macapanakhan 
or  Chester  creek,  beginning  on  the  west  side  Schuyl- 
kill at  a  hill  called  Conshohocken,  and  from  thence  by 
a  westerly  line  to  the  said  Macapanakhan  creek.  At 
the  same  time  Neneshickon,  Malebore,  Neshanocke  and 
Oscrenean  dispose  of  their  rights  to  all  the  lands 
between  the  said  Schuylkill  river  and  Pennypack  creek, 
and  as  far  north  as  the  hill  called  Conshokocken 
The  aforesaid  is  now  better  known  as  Edge  Hill,  being 
a  long  narrow  ridge  of  primal  white  sandstone  crossing 
the  Delaware  at  Trenton,  and  running  south-westerly 
into  Maryland.  It  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  being  the 
first  elevation  of  any  length  above  tide  water,  and  for 
the  purpose  mentioned,  served  as  a  prominent  natural 
boundary. 


no  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

From  Philadelphia  on  the  1 8th  Penn  sent  a  draft  of 
his  proclamation  to  London,  in  relation  to  the  lands  of 
Thomas  Mathews  of  Burlington,  a  copy  of  which  is  in 
the  State  Paper  Office.  This  no  doubt  has  reference 
to  the  matter  on  which  he  appointed  four  Commis- 
sioners on  the  iith  of  last  month,  to  treat  with  the 
Governor  of  New  Jersey  "  for  certain  great  wrongs  and 
injustice  done  unto  me  and  the  province  about  the 
trade  and  the  islands  therein." 

In  this  month  the  Proprietary  issued  an  order  for 
the  establishment  of  a  post-office,  and  granted  Henry 
Waldy,  of  Tacony,  authority  to  hold  one,  and  also  to 
supply  passengers  with  horses  from  Philadelphia  to  the 
Falls  and  New  Castle.  The  rates  of  postage  on  letters 
from  the  Falls  to  the  city  was  three  pence ;  to  Chester, 
five  pence,  and  to  New  Castle,  seven  pence.  It  went 
only  once  a  week ;  and  it  was  Phineas  Pemberton's 
duty  to  put  up  a  notice  to  this  effect  at  the  most  pub- 
lic places,  and  on  the  doors  of  the  private  houses 
where  the  meetings  were  then  held. 

Phineas  Pemberton,  just  mentioned,  arrived  here 
shortly  after  Penn,  and  so  well  and  favorably  known 
in  the  early  annals  of  Bucks,  was  commissioned  the 
first  Clerk  of  the  Court  as  the  following,  copied  from 
the  records,  bears  testimony  : 

"William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Territories  thereunto 
belonging.  To  Phineas  Pemberton  greeting :  Repos- 
ing confidence  in  thy  integrity  and   ability,  I  do  here- 


PENNSBURY.  I  I  I 

by  constitute  and  appoint  thee  Clark  of  the  Court  of 
the  County  of  Bucks,  to  act  in  the  same  employment 
with  all  diligence,  faithfulness  and  according  to  law ; 
and  to  receive  the  fees  due  as  by  law  directed.  This 
Commission  to  be  of  force  as  long  as  thou  shalt  well 
behave  thyself  therein.  Given  at  Pennsbury  the  2ist 
of  5th  month,  1683. 

Wm.  Penn." 

In  the  aforesaid  we  have  the  earliest  mention  of 
Pennsbury,  and  establishes  the  fact  that  Penn  was 
residing  there  at  this  time — during  the  heated  teim  in 
the  midst  of  summer.  Mention  was  made  of  the 
Friends  holding  meetings  here  at  the  "  Governor's 
house,"  before  the  middle  of  First  month  last,  over 
five  months  previous.  In  consequence,  it  becomes  us 
now  to  say  something  respecting  its  earlier  history. 
From  Lindstrom's  map  of  New  Sweden  in  1654,  we 
find  the  stream  here  called  "  Sapaessing,"  which  name 
was  also  applied  to  the  country  in  the  vicinity,  as  we 
learn  from  the  Albany  records  of  1672.  It  is  an 
Indian  name,  and  is  said  to  signify  "a  place  of  plums," 
from  the  abundance  of  this  kind  of  fruit  found  grow- 
ing here.  The  name  was  also  applied  to  the  island 
above  the  place,  now  generally  known  as  Biddle's 
island. 

Deputy  Governor  Markham  purchased  for  Penn, 
August  1st,  1682,  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Lasse  Cock, 


112  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

at  Upland,  of  several  Indian  chiefs,  among  other  ex- 
tensive tracts  "  ye  land  called  Soepassincks,  and  ye 
island  of  ye  same  name."  This  manor  originally  con- 
tained 8,431  acres,  fronting  on  the  Delaware  for 
several  miles.  The  soil  was  fertile,  and  from  accounts 
was  one  of  the  heaviest  timbered  tracts  in  the  county. 
Here,  by  the  margin  of  the  Delaware,  Penn  had  his 
mansion  erected  in  the  years  1682-83,  ^^^  it  is  said 
under  the  direction  of  his  relative  Markham,  at  a  cost 
of  ^7,000,  which  at  that  day  was  certainly  a  large  sum. 
For  its  better  construction  a  considerable  quantity  of 
the  most  finished  and  ornamental  materials  had  been 
brought  from  England.  Here  he  afterwards  resided 
for  a  time  with  his  family,  and  held  treaties  with  the 
Indians  and  religious  meetings. 

That  he  had  an  attachment  to  a  rural  life  is  exhib- 
ited in  the  following  extract  from  the  parting  address  to 
his  wife  on  the  eve  of  embarkation  to  America :  "  Let 
my  children  be  husbandmen  and  housewifes.  This 
leads  to  consider  the  works  of  God  and  nature,  and 
diverts  the  mind  from  being  taken  up  with  the  vain 
arts  and  inventions  of  a  luxurious  world.  Of  cities 
and  towns,  of  concourse  beware.  The  world  is  apt 
to  stick  close  to  those  who  have  lived  and  got  wealth 
there.  A  country  life  and  estate  I  like  best  for  my 
children."  That  he  was  fond  of  calling  places  after 
the  several  members  of  his  family,  Pennsbury,  Wil- 
liamstadt,  Springettsbury,  Callowhill,  Gilberts  and 
others  sufficiently  attest. 


FURTHER    ACCOUNTS    OF   THE     PROVINCE.  I  1 3 

During  this  month  Penn  sent  four  letters  with  his 
agent  Capt.  Markham  to  England,  all  of  great  interest ; 
containing  considerable  information  respecting  the 
colony,  the  Indians,  the  natural  productions  of  the 
country  and  the  progress  made  in  improvements,  etc. 
The  prime  object,  however,  of  these,  it  would  appear, 
was  to  secure  influence  from  those  in  power,  and  be  of 
assistance  to  him  in  his  claims  against  Lord  Baltimore 
respecting  the  boundaries  between  the  two  provinces. 

The  following,  dated  Philadelphia,  the  24th  of  5th 
month,  1683,  "  For  Colonel  Henry  Sidney,  in  Leiches- 
terfield,"  who  was  the  third  son  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester, 
brother  to  the  celebrated  Algernon  Sidney,  and  an 
uncle  of  Lord  Sunderland.  For  the  active  part  he 
took  in  the  Revolution  of  1688,  was  created  by  Wil- 
liam and  Mary,  Earl  of  Romney.  To  Penn  he  con- 
tinued a  sincere  and  lasting  friend.  Nearly  the  whole 
of  this  interesting  letter  is  here  given : 

"  The  great  parts  of  friendship  are  love,  truth,  and 
constancy,  and  from  the  time  it  pleased  thee  to  receive 
mine,  it  hath  not  wandered  in  any  one  respect,  but  I 
still  love  and  honour  thee,  and  would  be  glad  I  could 
be  of  any  service  to  thee ;  at  this  distance,  to  be  sure 
I  cannot,  but  neither  can  distance  wear  out  the  impres- 
sions a  long  and  kind  acquaintance  hath  made  upon 
my  mind.  'Tis  with  this  familiar  talk  I  begin  to 
entertain  thee,  though  a  great  man,  now  in  the  govern- 
ment, and  long  deserving  to  have  been  so  in  thyself, 

8 


I  14  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

nor  shall  I  ask  any  excuse  for  this  freedom  with  a 
person  whose  good  nature  will  not  be  offended,  and 
whose  good  sense  loveth  little  ceremony  in  writing. 

"  I  have  been  here  about  nine  months,  and  have  had 
my  health,  I  thank  God  very  well ;  I  find  the  country 
wholesome,  land,  air,  and  water  good,  divers  good  sorts 
of  wood  and  fruits  that  grow  wild,  of  which  plums, 
peaches  and  grapes  are  three ;  also  cedar,  chestnut  and 
black  walnut  and  poplar,  with  five  sorts  of  oak,  black 
and  white,  Spanish,  red  and  swamp  oak  the  most 
durable  of  all,  the  leaf  like  the  English  willow. 

"  We  have  laid  out  a  town  a  mile  long,  and  two 
miles  deep.  On  each  side  of  the  town  runs  a  navigable 
river,  the  least  as  broad  as  the  Thames  at  Woolwich, 
the  other  about  a  mile  over.  I  think  we  have  near 
about  eighty  houses  built,  and  about  three  hundred 
farmers  settled  around  the  town.  I  fancy  it  already 
pleasanter  than  the  Weald  of  Kent,  our  being  clearer, 
and  the  country  not  much  closer;  a  coach  might  be 
driven  twenty  miles  end-ways.  We  have  had  fifty  sail 
of  ships  and  small  vessels,  since  the  last  summer  in 
our  river,  which  shows  a  good  beginning.  And  I 
hope  God  will  prosper  our  honest  care  and  industry, 
yet  a  friend  at  Court  is  a  good  thing;  and  I  flatter 
myself  to  believe,  I  shall  never  want  one  while  thou 
art  there.  Wherefore  give  me  leave  to  recommend  the 
;bearer,  my  agent  and  kinsman.  Captain  William  Mark- 
iham,  to  thy  favour  and  power. 

"  I  hear  the  Lord  Sunderland  is  Secretary  of  State 


-^ 


FURTHER    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    PROVINCE.  I  I  5 

again;  I  also  remember  his  kind  promises,  and  the 
mighty  influences  thou  deservedly  hast  upon  him; 
pray  use  it  in  my  affair,  that  only  I  and  my  family,  but 
the  province  may  owe  a  singular  acknowledgement  to 
thy  kindness.  That,  in  which  I  so  earnestly  solicit  thy 
assistance,  he  will  better  communicate  than  I  can  write 
it ;  and  I  would  not  make  my  letter  troublesome.  The 
business  is  just,  and  honourable,  and  prudent  for  the 
Crown  to  hear  me  in,  and  that  I  hope  will  make  it 
easie  to  my  noble  friends  to  favour  me.  I  have  written 
to  the  Lord  Sunderland  about  it,  for  it  belongs  to  his 
station,  and  since  no  man  can  better  welcome  it  to  him 
than  myself,  let  me  throw  myself  upon  thee,  and  by 
both  thy  introduction  of  him  and  countenance  of  the 
business  of  the  Lord.  God  will  reward  thee,  and  we 
here  shall  rest  the  debtors  of  thy  goodness,  with  much 
thankfulness. 

"  I  have  only  to  ask  pardon  for  a  poor  present  I  send, 
of  the  growth  of  our  country.  Remember  the  offer- 
ings of  old  were  valued  by  the  hearts  of  them  that 
made  them ;  which  gives  me  assurance  it  will  be  ac- 
cepted. I  hear  little  news,  and  am  not  very  careful  of 
it ;  but  a  line  of  thy  health,  and  success  of  thy  affairs 
will  be  very  pleasant :  nobody  interesting  himself  with 
more  affection  and  sincerity  in  thy  prosperity  than  thy 
very  faithful  friend." 

In  the  aforesaid,  Penn  remarks  he  had  written  a 
letter  at  sea  soliciting  a  few  fruit  trees  raised  by  Lord 
Sunderland's  gardener,  with  a  view  of  giving  them  a 


Il6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

trial  as  to  the  success  and  quality  of  what  may  be  pro- 
duced here.  The  willow  or  peach  oak  is  somewhat  of 
a  rare  tree  in  Pennsylvania,  but  is  still  found  in  the  low 
grounds  of  Pennsbury  manor. 

"  To  the  Lord  Keeper  North,  My  Noble  Friend,"  he 
writes  at  the  same  time,  in  which  he  says,  "  It  hath 
been  sometimes  a  question  with  me  whether  writing  or 
silence  would  be  more  excusable,  for  it  is  an  unhap- 
piness  incident  of  great  men  to  be  troubled  with 
the  prospects  of  those  their  power  and  goodness 
oblige,  but  because  I  had  rather  want  excuse  for 
this  freedom  than  be  wanting  of  gratitude  to  my  bene- 
factor, I  determined  to  render  my  most  humble  thanks 
for  the  many  favours  I  received  at  the  Lord  North's 
hand,  in  the  passing  and  great  dispatch  of  my  patent. 

"  I  thank  God  I  am  safely  arrived,  and  twenty-two 
sail  more ;  the  air  proveth  sweet  and  good,  the  land 
fertile,  and  springs  many  and  pleasant.  We  are  one 
hundred  and  thirty  miles  from  the  main  sea,  and  forty 
miles  up  the  freshes.  The  town  plat  is  a  mile  long  and 
two  miles  deep ;  on  each  side  of  the  town  runs  a  navi- 
gable river,  the  least  as  broad  as  the  Thames  at  Wool- 
wich, the  other  above  a  mile,  and  I  suppose  above  three 
hundred  farms  settled  as  contigiously  as  may  be.  We 
have  had  since  last  summer  about  sixty  sail  of  great 
and  small  shipping,  which  we  esteem  a  good  beginning  ; 
a  fair  we  have  had,  and  weekly  market,  to  which  the 
ancient  lowly  inhabitants  come  to  sell  their  produce  to 
their  profit  and  our"  accommodation. 


FURTHER   ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    PROVINCE.  11/ 

"  I  have  also  bought  land  of  the  natives,  treated  them 
largely,  and  settled  a  firm  and  advantageous  corres- 
pondency with  them  ;  who  are  a  careless,  merry  people, 
yet  in  property  strict  with  us,  though  as  kind  as  can 
be  among  themselves ;  in  council  so  deliberate,  in 
speech  short,  grave  and  eloquent,  young  and  old  in 
their  several  class,  that  I  have  never  seen  in  Europe 
anything  more  wise,  cautious  or  dexterous  'tis  as  ad- 
mirable to  me  as  it  may  look  incredible  on  that  side 
of  the  water. 

"  I  have  only  to  add,  that  it  would  please  the  Lord 
North,  to  smile  favourably  upon  us,  a  plantation  so  well 
j-egulated  for  the  benefit  of  the  crown,  and  so  improv- 
ing and  hopeful  by  the  industry  of  the  people,  that 
since  stewards  used  to  follow  such  enterprises  in  ancient 
times  at  least  encouragement  and  countenance  might  be 
yielded  us,  whose  aims  shall  in  everything  be  bounded 
with  a  just  regard  to  the  King's  service  ;  and  we  think 
we  may  reasonably  hope,  that  England  being  the  mar- 
ket both  of  our  wants  and  industry  in  great  measure, 
there  is  interest  as  well  as  goodness  ot  our  side. 

"  I  have  pardon  to  ask  for  a  poor  present  I  make  by 
the  hands  of  the  bearer  my  agent  and  kinsman  Capt. 
Markham  ;  all  I  have  to  say  is  this ;  'tis  our  country 
produce,  and  that  of  old  time  offerings  were  valued  by 
the  heart  that  made  them.  I  end  with  a  congratulation 
of  the  honour  the  King  hath  joined  to  thy  great  merit, 
and  my  sincere  and  most  affectionate  wishes  for  thy 
prosperity ;  being  one  of  those  many,  whom  thy  good- 


Il8  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

ness  hath  obliged  to  own  and  approve,  as  I  really  am, 
thy  very  sensible,  thankful  friend." 

The  following,  published  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Pennsylvania  (vol.  II.  pp.  243-7), 
was  addressed  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  and  is  dated 
on  the  28th,  from  which  we  give  several  extracts : 

"  I  had  rather  need  an  excuse  than  be  wanting  of 
gratitude  to  my  noble  benefactors  of  which  the  Lord 
Sunderland  was  one  of  the  first,  in  the  business  of  my 
American  country.  I  am  now  in  a  station,  where  my 
own  weakness  or  my  neighbour's  envy  may  happen  to 
hurt  my  honest  interest  and  the  good  work  I  have  in 
my  eye.  Please  to  take  me  and  my  poor  feeble  con- 
cerns into  thy  protection,  and  give  us  thy  smiles  and 
countenance ;  and  I  will  venture  to  say  ;  that  by  the 
help  of  God  and  such  noble  Friends  I  will  show  a 
province  in  seven  years  equal  to  her  neighbours  of 
forty  years  planting. 

"  I  have  laid  out  the  Province  into  counties,  six  are 
begun  to  be  seated,  they  lie  on  the  great  river  and  are 
planted  about  six  miles  back.  Th.e  town  plat  is  a  mile 
long  and  two  deep — has  a  navigable  river  on  each  side, 
the  least  as  broad  as  the  Thames  at  Woolwich,  from 
three  to  eight  fathom  water.  There  is  built  about 
eighty  houses,  and  I  have  settled  at  least  three  hun- 
dred farms  contigious  to  it.  We  have  had  with  pas- 
sengers twenty-three  ships,  and  trading  forty  great  and 
small  since  last  summer,  not  amiss  for  one  year.  Here  is 
a  hickory  nut  tree,  mighty  large,  and  more  tough  than 

i 


FURTHER    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE     PROVINCE.  II9 

our  ash,  the  finest  white  and  flaming  fire  I  have  ever 
seen.  I  have  had  better  venison,  bigger,  more  tender, 
and  as  fat  as  in  England.  Turkeys  of  the  wood,  I  had 
of  forty  and  fifty  pounds  weight.  Fish  in  abundance 
hereaways  yet  as  I  hear  of,  but  oysters,  that  are 
monstrous  for  bigness,  though  there  be  a  lesser  sort. 

"  The  Indians  are  an  extraordinary  people  had  not 
the  Dutch,  Swedes  and  English  learned  them  drunken- 
ness (in  which  condition,  they  kill  or  burn  one  another) 
they  had  been  very  tractable,  but  rum  is  so  dear  to 
them,  that  for  six  penny  worth,  one  may  buy  that  fur 
from  them,  that  five  shillings,  in  any  other  community 
shall  not  purchase.  Yet  many  of  the  old  men,  and 
some  of  the  young  people  will  not  touch  such  spirits ; 
and  because  in  those  fits  they  mischief  both  themselves 
and  our  folks  too,  I  have  forbid  to  sell  them  any. 
Pardon  my  noble  Friend  this  length,  I  thought  it  my 
duty  to  give  an  account  of  the  place  to  one  whose 
favour  had  helped  to  make  it  mine,  and  who  was 
pleased  more  than  once  to  discourse  on  the  settlement 
of  it.  I  have  only  to  recommend  the  bearer  my  kins- 
man, Capt.  Markham,  and  to  pray  access  in  my  affairs, 
yet  not  fully  fixt,  by  the  unkindness  of  my  neighbour, 
the  Lord  Baltimore." 

The  letter  to  Henry  Savill  was  also  written  in 
Philadelphia  and  dated  the  30th,  and  may  be  seen  in 
full  in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives,  vol.  I.  pp.  68-9. 

"  My  Worthy  Friend,"  he  writes,  "  Permit  a  man 
that  has  not  troubled  thee  a  long  time  to  do  it  now  a 


>""■ 


I20  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

little  with  the  news  of  this  new  world  that  by  it  at  least 
I  may  continue  and  preserve  my  claims  to  an  old  and 
very  obliging  acquaintance.  I  thank  God  I  am  come 
well  to  America  and  what  is  more,  like  it  well  but  that 
is  no  news.  The  land  is  good,  sand  and  loam  some- 
times strong,  the  air  serene  as  in  Languedoc,the  waters 
cool  and  sweet.  One  great  navigable  river  the  eastern 
bounds  of  our  Province  and  three  or  four  smaller, 
running  into  that,  the  woods  yield  us  cypress,  cedar, 
black  walnut,  sassafras,  oak  white,  black,  red,  Spanish, 
chestnut  and  swamp,  the  hardest  and  most  lasting  pop- 
lar, the  best  in  the  world,  I  have  here  a  canoe  of  one 
tree  that  fetches  four  ton  of  bricks  also  ash  and  many 
that  in  England  we  have  not.  The  woods  also  yield 
us  grapes,  plums,  peaches,  strawberries  and  chestnuts 
in  abundance. 

"  I  have  laid  out  a  town,  a  mile  long  and  two  deep, 
on  each  side  of  which  is  a  navigable  river  ye  least  of 
which  is  as  broad  as  ye  Thames  at  Woolwich,  as  I  re- 
member, from  three  to  eight  fathom.  The  winter  is 
sometimes  three  months  usually  but  two,  one  in  three 
years  sharp,  I  suppose  we  have  eighty  houses  in  our 
town  and  about  three  hundred  farmers  near  it  to  help 
us  with  provisions  and  the  merchants  and  mechanics  to 
accornmodate  them  with  goods. 

"The  natives  are  proper  and  shapely,  very  swift, 
their  language  lofty.  They  speak  little,  but  fervently 
and  with  elegancy,  I  have  never  seen  more  natural 
sagacity,   considering   them  without  the  help   I   was 


FURTHER    ACCOUNTS    OF    THE     PROVINCE.  121 

going  to  say  the  spoil  of  tradition.  The  worst  is  that 
they  are  the  worse  for  the  Christians  who  have  prop- 
agated their  views  and  yielded  them  tradition  for  the 
worst  and  not  for  the  better  things.  They  believe  in 
a  Deity  and  immortality  without  the  help  of  metaphis- 
ics  and  some  of  them  admirably  sober,  though  the 
Dutch,  Swedes  and  English  have  by  brandy  and  rum 
almost  debaucht  them  all  and  when  drunk  the  most 
wretched  of  spectacles,  of  burning  and  sometimes 
murdering  one  another,  at  which  times  the  Christians 
are  not  without  danger  as  well  as  fear.  Though  for 
gain  they  will  run  the  hazard  both  of  that  and  the  law. 
They  make  their  worship  to  consist  of  two  parts,  sac- 
rifices which  they  offer  of  their  first  fruits  with  mar- 
velous fervency  and  labour  of  body  sweating  as  if  in 
a  bath.  The  other  is  their  canticoes  as  they  call  them 
which  is  performed  by  round  dances,  sometimes  words, 
then  songs,  then  shouts  being  in  the  middle  that  begin 
and  direct  the  chorus  this  they  perform  with  equal 
fervency  but  great  appearance  of  joy. 

"  In  this  I  admire  them,  nobody  shall  want  what 
another  has,  yet  they  have  propriety,  but  freely  com- 
municable, they  want  or  care  for  little,  no  bills  of  ex- 
change, nor  bills  of  lading,  no  chancery  suits  nor  ex- 
chequer accounts  have  they  to  perplex  themselves  with, 
they  are  soon  satisfied  and  their  pleasure  feeds  them,  I 
mean  hunting  and  fishing.  I  have  made  two  pur- 
chases, and  have  had  two  pre.sents  of  land  from  them. 

"  Things  here  go  on  very   prosperously,  and  with 


122  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

God's  help  and  the  Kings  and  my  noble  Friend's  fa- 
vour I  doubt  not  in  seven  years  to  equal  plantations 
forty  years  older,  as  in  a  town  (the  life  of  a  province)  I 
have  already  outdone  some.  I  do  earnestly  recommend 
the  bearer  Capt.  Markham  my  kinsman,  an  ingenious 
person  and  my  agent  at  Court  for  the  completing  of 
my  affairs.  Pray  give  him  access  and  measures,  favour 
our  beginnings  and  let  not  this  distance  rob  me  of  the 
continuance  of  thy  favour  and  friendship." 

These  several  letters  do  Penn  infinite  credit,  and  show 
him  to  have  been  a  careful  observer  of  the  habits  of 
the  natives,  the  productions  of  the  soil,  and  of  the 
growth  and  progress  of  the  province,  as  well  as 
its  adaptations  and  capabilities.  In  correspondence  he 
certainly  possessed  a  ready  pen,  and  few  can  be  found 
of  that  day  treating  on  kindred  subjects  that  can  ap- 
proach them  in  style  and  information. 

About  this  time  Penn  appears  to  have  had  consid- 
erable anxiety  concerning  his  relations  with  Lord 
Baltimore,  and  which,  as  we  see,  induced  him  to  dis- 
patch Captain  Markham  as  his  agent  to  England.  In 
a  letter  to  John  Tucker  on  the  29th,  he  says,  "  My 
difficulties  have  been  many,  and  are  continued  by  the 
backwardness  of  Lord  Baltimore  to  comply  with  the 
King's  letter."  Two  days  later  he  wrote  to  Col. 
Thomas  Taylor,  of  Annarundel  county,  at  whose  house 
the  conference  had  been  held  in  December  last.  "  I 
had  his  promise  at  the  same  time,  and  treated  him  at 
the  George  and  Vulture  for  that  very  reason  where  he 


FURTHER   ACCOUNTS    OF    THE     PROVINCE.  1 23 

challenged  with  me  to  have  spoken  so,  but  hath  not 
performed  Again,  I  finding  this  place  necessary  to 
my  province,  and  that  the  presence  of  the  Lord  Balti- 
more was  against  law  civil  and  common,  I  endeavored 
to  get  it,  and  have  it,  and  will  keep  it  if  I  can.  But 
the  Proprietor  is  good  or  bad  a  charging;  for  he 
charges  my  suppositions  as  concessions  :  If  thou  hast 
a  title  to  the  lower  counties,  they  are  not  the  farther 
off,  because  I  have  them ;  and  the  40th  degree  of 
North  Latitude  be  higher  than  common  fame  giveth  it, 
what  wilt  thou  let  me  have  it  at  per  mile,  and  so  pro 
rata,  and  I  will  waive  the  King's  letter." 

A  communication  was  sent  to  his  "  Esteemed 
Friend,"  Philemon  Lloyd  at  Choptank,  in  Maryland, 
dated  from  Philadelphia,  on  the  31st.  It  is  lengthy 
and  treats  chiefly  on  religious  matters.  Having  heard 
that  he  was  recovering  after  considerable  sickness,  and 
expresses  the  desire  that  he  may  soon  be  well  again. 
From  the  friendliness  exhibited  therein  by  Penn,  it  is 
very  probable  that  he  was  entertained  by  him,  and  at- 
tended religious  worship  when  on  his  return  from  West 
River. 


124  ^VM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XL 

EXERTIONS    OF    PENN    ON    THE     BOUNDARY     QUESTION. 

WRITES    A    PAMPHLET    ON    THE    PROVINCE. 

ARRIVAL    OF    PASTORIUS. 

\_August,  1 68 J.'] 

The  Governor  held  a  Council  in  Philadelphia,  on 
the  1st  of  6th  month,  Nicholas  More,  the  Secretary, 
being  present.  Among  other  matters,  "  That  'tis 
thought  fit  the  care  of  Magistrates,  that  due  provision 
be  made  for  the  sustenance  of  the  people,  and  though 
our  provisions  are  but  small,  yet  that  there  may  be 
care  taken  every  one  may  partake."  Another  meeting 
was  held  on  the  i6th,  when  they  adjourned  till  the 
29th.  On  the  latter  day,  "The  Governor  put  the 
question  whether  a  proclamation  were  not  convenient 
to  be  put  forth  to  impower  Masters  to  chastise  their 
servants,  and  to  punish  any  that  shall  inveigle  any 
servant  to  go  from  his  Master."  The  minutes  state 
that  this  was  unanimously  agreed  upon,  "  and  ordered 
it  accordingly." 

Among  the  papers  that  Penn  prepared  in  his  defence 
to  send  to  England,  was  a  statement  made  out  on  the 
9th  of  this  month,  that  at  the  Conference  held  at  Col. 


THE    BOUNDARY    QUESTION.  1 25 

Taylor's  in  Maryland,  in  loth  month  last,  in  reply  to 
his  arguments  about  two  degrees  being  only  granted 
to  Lord  Baltimore,  Chancellor  Charles  Calvert  had 
said,  "  Sir,  to  show  you  that  the  patent  was  not  to 
begin  by  degrees,  my  father  had  a  grant  of  more  of 
Virginia  then  than  now  my  nephew  enjoyeth,  but  that 
the  patent  giving  only  unplanted  land,  he  was  advised 
to  let  it  fall  least  he  forfeited  the  whole." 

A  few  days  before  Markham's  embarkation,  Penn 
prepared  a  letter  to  be  presented  to  the  King,  Charles 
II.  A  copy  was  made  by  J.  R.  Coates,  Esq.,  from  the 
original  in  London,  which  was  published  in  1827,  in 
the  Memoirs  (vol.  II.  pp.  241-3)  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania.  For  our  purpose  it  is  too 
lengthy,  and  therefore  give  only  the  following  extracts: 
"  Great  and  Gracious  Prince. 

"It  is  a  barren  soil  that  yields  no  returns  to  the  dew 
that  feeds  it,  and  they  are  mean  and  ungrateful  minds 
that  are  oblivious  of  the  favours  they  receive.  I  would 
fain  excuse  this  freedom,  if  I  were  not  bound  to  use 
it,  for  being  destitute  of  better  ways,  gratitude  makes 
it  necessary  to  me,  and  necessity  is  a  solicitor  that  takes 
no  denial.  Let  the  King  then  graciously  please  to 
accept  my  most  humble  thanks  for  his  many  royal 
favours,  conferred  upon  me,  more  especially  this  of 
Pennsylvania.  I  only  lament  myself,  in  a  way  suitable 
to  the  sense  I  have  of  the  great  obligations  I  lie 
under.     *  *  *  * 

**  Give    me    leave    next,  to    say,  so  soon  as  I  was 


126  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

arrived  and  made  any  settlement  of  this  Province ;  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  wait  upon  the  King  by  some 
person  of  the  Province,  in  condition  of  an  Agent 
extraordinary,  which  is  the  bearer  my  kinsman  Mark- 
ham,  formerly  deputy  in  this  Government,  and  though 
this  would  not  look  wholy  free  of  vanity,  considering 
my  late  private  capacity,  yet  I  take  it  to  be  the  duty 
of  those  persons  whom  the  goodness  of  the  Kings  of 
England  hath  at  any  time  clothed  with  extraordinary 
powers  in  these  parts  of  the  world,  to  show  their 
deference  to  the  Imperial  Majesty  they  are  tributary 
to,  and  their  dependence  upon  it,  by  the  mission  and 
attendance  of  Agents  in  their  names  at  the  Court  I 
have  only  now.  Great  Prince,  to  pray  pardon  and 
acceptance  for  a  poor  present  of  country  produce,  and 
that  it  w^ould  graciously  please  the  King  to  take  me 
still  into  his  favour,  his  young  Province  into  his  pro- 
tection ;  and  God,  the  bountiful  rewarder  of  good  and 
gracious  acts,  retaliate  them  both  with  temporal  and 
eternal  glory.  I  am  with  reverence  and  truth  Great 
and  Gracious  Prince  thy  most  thankful,  humble  and 
obedient  subject  and  servant  in  all  I  can. 

Wm.  Penn. 
"  Philadelphia,  13th  Aug.  '83." 

On  the  14th  Penn  closed  his  arduous  labors  for  a 
short  tim«  on  the  great  boundary  dispute.  For  on 
this  day  he  finished  his  letter  to  the  Lords  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Plantations  in  London,  to  be  forwarded  with 
the  other  letters. 


HIS    PAMPHLET    ON    THE    PROVINCE.  12/ 

After  going  over  the  controversy  he  concludes  as 
follows  :  "  I  have  only  humbly  to  add  that  the  province 
hath  a  prospect  of  an  extraordinary  improvement,  as 
well  by  divers  sorts  of  strangers,  as  English  subjects; 
that,  in  all  acts  of  justice,  we  name  and  venerate  the 
King's  authority ;  that  I  have  followed  the  Bishop  of 
London's  counsel,  by  buying,  and  not  taking  away  the 
natives*  land ;  with  whom  I  have  settled  a  very  kind 
correspondence.  I  return  my  most  humble  thanks  for 
your  former  favours,  in  the  passing  of  my  patent,  and 
pray  God  reward  you.  I  am  most  ready  to  obey  all 
your  commands,  according  to  the  obligations  of  them, 
and  beseech  you  take  this  province  into  your  pro- 
tection under  his  Majesty,  and  him,  whom  his  good- 
ness hath  made  Governor  of  it,  into  your  favours." 

In  the  aforesaid,  Penn  modestly  pays  the  Bishop  a 
high  compliment.  But  in  this  respect  he  was  but  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  the  Dutch,  Swedes  and  the  Eng- 
lish, in  the  case  of  Governor  Andros  within  the  same 
territory.  Queen  Christina,  in  her  instructions  to  Gov- 
ernor Printz,  forbid  him  to  take  land  from  the  Indians, 
except  by  a  fair  purchase.  We  are  not  aware  that 
either  the  Government  or  any  of  the  Kings  of  England 
admitted  such  a  right  in  the  natives,  at  least  down  to 
a  short  time  before  the  middle  of  last  century.  There 
are  documents  extant  to  prove  this,  which  state  that 
his  Majesty  was  vested  in  the  exclusive  ownership  of 
the  soil.* 

*  See  history  of  the  Indian  Walk,  chapter  II. 


128  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

We  have  at  this  time  another  evidence  of  the  ex- 
traordinary industry  exhibited  amidst  his  multifarious 
duties  in  "  A  Letter  from  William  Penn  Proprietary  and 
Governour  of  Pennsylvania  in  America  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  Free  Society  of  Traders  of  that  Province,  re- 
siding in  London.  Containing  a  General  Description  of 
the  said  Province,  its  Soil,  Air,  Water,  Seasons  and 
Produce,  both  Natural  and  Artificial,  and  the  good 
Encrease  thereof"  He  gives  in  it  the  date  of  "  i6th  of 
6th  Moneth,  called  August  1683,"  and  at  the  end  signs 
himself  "  Your  Kind  Cordial  Friend."  It  was  pub- 
lished in  a  pamphlet  of  1 1  pages  royal  octavo  size,  and 
on  the  title  page  states,  "  Printed  and  Sold  by  Andrew 
Sowle  at  the  Crooked-Billet  in  Holloway,  Shoreditch, 
and  at  several  Stationers  in  London,  1683."  We  ex- 
tract the  following  interesting  account: 

"  The  city  of  Philadelphia,  now  extends  in  length, 
from  river  to  river,  two  miles,  and  in  breadth  near  a 
mile ;  and  the  Governour,  as  a  further  manifestation  of 
his  kindness  to  the  purchasers,  hath  freely  given  them 
their  respective  lots  in  the  city,  without  defalcation  of 
any  other  quantities  of  purchase  lands;  and  as  its  now 
placed  and  modelled  between  two  navigable  rivers  up- 
on a  neck  of  land,  and  that  ships  may  ride  in  good 
anchorage,  in  six  or  eight  fathom  water  in  both  rivers, 
close  to  the  city,  and  the  land  of  the  city,  dry  and 
wholesome  ;  such  a  scituation  is  scarce  to  be  parallel'd. 

"  The  city  consists  of  a  large  Front-street  to  each 
river,  and  a  High  street  near  the  middle  from  Front  to 


HIS    PAMPHLET    ON    THE    PROVINCE.  1 29 

Front,  of  one  hundred  foot  broad,  and  a  Broad  street 
in  the  middle  of  the  city,  from  side  to  side,  of  the  like 
breadth.  In  the  centre  of  the  city  is  a  square  of  ten 
acres ;  at  each  angle  are  to  be  houses  for  publick 
affairs,  as  a  Meeting-House,  Assembly  or  State-House, 
Market-House,  School-House,  and  several  other  build- 
ings for  public  concerns.  There  are  also  in  each 
quarter  of  the  city  a  square  of  eight  acres,  to  be  for 
the  like  uses,  as  the  Moore-fields  in  London;  and 
eight  streets,  besides  the  High  Street,  that  run  from 
Front  to  Front,  and  twenty  streets,  besides  the  Broad 
street,  that  run  cross  the  city,  from  side  to  side ;  all 
these  streets  are  of  fifty  foot  breadth." 

The  pamphlet  contains  an  engraved  plot  or  plan  of 
the  city,  as  laid  out  by  the  Surveyor-General,  with  the 
lots  numbered.  In  this  also  appeared  his  full  and  ex- 
ceedingly well-written  account  of  the  Indians.  For  its 
size,  in  our  opinion,  the  very  best  in  the  language  on 
that  subject  that  appeared  within  said  century.  Such 
was  the  popularity  of  this  work  that  it  was  soon  after 
translated  into  several  European  languages,  and  read 
with  great  interest.  It  was  republished  in  The  Present 
State  of  British  America,  by  Richard  Blome,  in  1687, 
in  Proud's  History  of  Pennsylvania  (vol.  I.  pp.  245- 
264),  Hazard's  Register  (vol.  I.  p.  433),  and  in  a  num- 
ber of  other  works. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  square  "  in  the  centre  of 
the  city,"  designed  by  Penn  for  the  Public  Buildings, 

9 


130  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

should,  after  an  interval  of  more  than  a  century  and 
three-quarters,  through  a  popular  vote,  be  appropriated 
to  that  use.  This  shows  the  far-seeing  plans  of  the 
man  to  whom  Philadelphia  is  now  so  much  indebted 
for  the  admirable  arrangements  of  its  streets  and  public 
squares.  If  any  one  is  deserving  a  statue,  as  is  pro- 
posed, on  the  lofty  dome  of  the  new  City  Hall,  it  must 
be  he. 

In  the  previous  year  at  Frankfort-on-the-Maine,  in  Ger- 
many, was  founded  the  first  company  for  sending  colo- 
nists to  America;  it  was  called  "  Die  Auswanderer  Ges- 
elchaft,"  but  here  known  as  the  Frankfort  Land  Com- 
pany. One  of  its  principal  agents  was  Francis  Daniel 
Pastorius,  a  native  of  Limburg,  and  an  accomplished 
scholar.  Hearing  of  the  success  of  Penn's  colony,  and 
pleased  with  his  broad  and  liberal  views,  he  embarked 
on  the  ship  Ainerica^  Captain  Wasey,  which  took  its 
departure  from  Deal  June  7th,  1683;  and  on  the  i6th 
of  August  made  first  sight  of  land,  but  did  not  enter 
the  Capes  of  Delaware  until  the  i8th.  On  the  20th 
they  passed  New  Castle  and  Chester,  and  towards 
evening  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  thirty-three  other  Germans  from  Crefeldt,  who 
arrived  in  the  Concord,  William  Jeffries,  master,  on  the 
3th  of  October. 

Pastorius  says  they  landed  "  in  perfect  health  and 
safety,  where  we  were  all  welcomed  with  great  joy  and 
love  by  the  governor  William  Penn  and  his  secretary. 
He  at  once  made  me  his  confidential  friend,  and  I  am 


ARRIVAL   OF    PASTORIUS.  I3I 

frequently  requested  to  dine  with  him,  where  I  can  en- 
joy his  good  counsel  and  edifying  conversations. 
Lately,  I  could  not  visit  him  for  eight  days,  when  he 
waited  upon  me  himself,  requesting  me  to  dine  with 
him,  in  future,  twice  in  each  week,  without  particular 
invitation,  assuring  me  of  his  love  and  friendship  to- 
wards myself  and  the  German  people,  hoping  that  all 
the  rest  of  the  colonists  would  do  the  same. 

"  This  wise  and  truly  pious  ruler  and  governor  did 
not,  however,  take  possession  of  the  province  thus 
granted  without  having  first  conciliated,  and  at  various 
counsils  and  treaties  duly  purchased  from  the  natives 
of  this  country  the  various  sections  of  Pennsylvania. 
He,  having  by  these  means  ofltained  good  titles  to  the 
province,  under  the  sanction  and  signature  of  the  chiefs, 
I  therefore  have  purchased  from  him  some  thirty  thou- 
sand acres  for  my  German  colony.  Now,  although 
the  oft-mentioned  William  Penn  is  one  of  the  sect  of 
Friends  or  Quakers,  still  he  will  compel  no  man  to 
belong  to  his  particular  society,  but  he  has  granted  to 
every  one  free  and  untrammeled  exercise  of  their 
opinions,  and  the  largest  and  most  complete  liberty  of 
concience." 

These  interesting  extracts  are  translated  from  his 
"  Geographische  Beschreibung  Der  Provintz,  Pensyl- 
vaniae,"  a  work  of  120  duo.  pages,  published  at  Frank- 
fort and  Leipzig  in  1 700.  In  the  preface  he  says,  "  That 
it  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  Province  in  1684  con- 
tained a  population  of  4,000  Christian  souls."    Pastorius 


132  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  his  Germans  were  the  founders  of  Germantown,  of 
whom  Robert  Turner,  in  a  letter  dated  Philadelphia,  3d 
of  6th  mo.,  1685,  says  they  go  on  finely  in  the  manu- 
facture of  fine  linen,  having  gathered  one  crop  of  flax 
and  sowed  for  the  second,  and  were  also  preparing  to 
make  brick  the  next  year.  Pastorius  died  in  17 19, 
aged  sixty-eight  years. 

We  have  the  authority  of  Oldmixon,  derived  from  a 
personal  interview,  that  some  time  this  year  Penn  made 
a  journey  into  the  interior  of  the  Province.  It  was 
made  on  horseback,  and  it  may  be  possible  that  it  was 
one  of  those  to  which  Thomas  Fairman  alludes  as 
having  accompanied  him.  The  principal  object,  no 
doubt,  was  to  become  more  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  country  and  its  natural  productions,  as  well  as  the 
mode  of  Indian  life  from  actual  observation,  for  the 
purpose  of  communicating  the  same  abroad  in  his 
writings  for  the  benefit  of  the  reading  public,  as  has 
been  related  in  this  and  the  previous  chapter.  Penn 
stated  how  he  slept  at  nights  in  their  wigwams,  par- 
took of  their  fare,  and  how  they  treated  their  sick  when 
ill  of  fevers  by  sweatings  in  heated  ovens  and  baths. 
Wherever  he  came  he  was  kindly  received  and  hos- 
pitably entertained.  To  this  journey  he  undoubtedly 
alludes  in  his  "  Further  Account  of  the  Province," 
written  in  1685  ;  wherein  he  states,  "I  hav^e  made  a 
discovery  of  about  a  hundred  miles  west,  and  find 
those  back  lands  richer  in  soil,  woods,  and  fountains, 


ARRIVAL   OF    PASTORIUS.  I  33 

then  that  by  Delaware ;  especially  upon  the  Susque- 
hanna riv^er."  Certainly  a  pretty  good  judgment  re- 
specting the  present  Lancaster  county,  one  of  the  gar- 
den spots  of  America. 


34  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

MORE    INDIAN    PURCHASES. ADDITIONAL   TROUBLES 

RESPECTING    THE    BOUNDARIES. VISITS    UMBILI- 

CAMENCE. SELECTS    A    TRACT    FOR    THE 

MANOR    OF    SPRINGFIELD. 

[September  and  Deceinber,  i68j.'] 

Penn  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Council  in  Phila- 
delphia on  the  7th,  8th,  loth,  nth  and  I2th  of  this 
(7th)  month.  On  the  8th,  "  The  Governor  proposes  a 
law  to  be  drawn,  that  servants  which  run  away  should 
serve  five  days  for  every  day's  absence  after  the  time 
of  their  servitude,  and  pay  the  costs  and  damages  the 
masters  shall  sustain  by  their  absence.  The  Governor 
stating  the  question  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative." 

Kekelappan  of  Opasiskunk  "  conveys  to  Penn  on  the 
1 0th,  all  his  right  to  lands  along  the  Susquehanna 
with  a  further  promise  to  sell  unto  him  at  ye  next 
spring  at  my  return  from  hunting,  ye  other  half  of  my 
land,  at  as  reasonable  rates  as  other  Indians  have  been 
used  to  sell  on  this  river."  It  is  likely  that  this  was 
brought  about  by  the  Proprietary's  recent  journey  into 
the  interior,  when  he  may  have  visited  that  portion  of 
the  province. 


ADDITIONAL     BOUNDARY    TROUBLES.  1 35 

As  has  been  stated,  Penn  had  troubles  respecting 
his  boundaries  with  both  Maryland  and  West  New 
Jersey,  and  now,  through  the  aforesaid  purchase,  there 
was  to  be  an  additional  one.  Col.  Thomas  Dungan 
on  the  1 8th  sent  a  letter  to  the  authorities  at  Albany, 
in  which  he  says,  "  I  have  this  day  advised  with  the 
Council,  and  after  a  serious  consideration  as  a  cause  of 
so  great  importance  required,  it  is  for  good  and 
weighty  reasons  thought  very  convenient  and  necessary 
to  put  a  stop  to  all  proceedings  in  Mr.  Penn's  affairs 
with  the  Indians,  until  his  bounds  and  limits  be 
adjusted,  at  the  determining  of  which  I  think  either  to 
be  personally  present,  or  else  send  some  on  purpose. 
You  are  therefore,  to  suffer  no  manner  of  proceedings 
in  that  business  until  you  shall  have  positive  orders 
from  me  about  it,  and  Mr.  Haigue,  Penn's  agent  is  to 
be  acquainted  with  the  contents  of  this  letter."  This 
matter  induced  the  Proprietary  a  few  days  afterwards 
to  go  to  New  York,  and  we  know  that  he  had  not  yet 
returned  on  the  24th.  While  there,  as  will  be  shortly 
mentioned,  he  availed  himself  of  having  copies  made 
from  the  early  records  to  sustain  not  only  his  own,  but 
also  the  Duke's  title  to  the  Lower  Territories. 

Lord  Baltimore,  on  the  17th,  commissioned  George 
Talbot  to  proceed  to  Philadelphia  to  demand  from 
Penn  or  his  deputy,  all  the  land  that  lay  southward  of 
the  Fortieth  degree  of  North  latitude.  On  the  24th, 
in  the  absence  of  the  Proprietary,  at  New  York,  the 
same  was  made  on  Nicholas  More  as  his  agent.     On 


136  .       WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

his  return,  Penn  wrote  a  reply  to  Talbot,  dated  Phila- 
delphia the  4th  of  8th  month,  in  which  he  stated  that 
the  said  territory  belonged  to  his  grants,  and  he  would 
therefore  refuse  to  yield  the  same.  In  consequence,  oa 
the  1 8th  (Oct.),  he  issued  a  proclamation  at  New  Castle, 
prohibiting  all  persons  to  settle  on  the  lands  between 
the  Delaware  river  and  Chesapeake  Bay  without  his 
leave. 

Edward  Brooks,  while  on  a  visit  in  the  province, 
purchased  of  Penn  on  the  12th,  2,000  acres  of  land 
for  eighty  pounds  sterling,  "  good  and  lawful  money  of 
Old  England,"  and  promises  to  pay  the  same  "within 
ye  space  of  six  months  after  my  arrival  in  England 
unto  Philip  Ford,  merchant  in  Bow  Lane  in  London 
without  fail."  This  appears  to  be  a  singular  condition 
of  payment,  and  shows  that  the  Proprietary  had 
already  trusted  some  of  his  business  matters  to  Ford, 
and  of  which  eventually  the  latter  was  to  take  undue 
advantage. 

Another  purchase  was  make  by  Penn  on  the  1 8th 
from  Macholoha  for  all  his  right  to  lands  situated 
between  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Delaware  river,  and  ex- 
tending upwards  to  the  Falls  of  the  Susquehanna.  It 
must  be  admitted  that  such  boundaries  are  vaguely 
expressed,  but  still  could  be  the  better  comprehended 
by  the  Indians. 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  by  the  Governor 
on  the  25th,  26th,  27th,  29th  and  30th.  On  the  26th 
he  sentenced  Charles  Pickering  for  passing   counterfeit 


ADDITIONAL    BOUNDARY    TROUBLES.  I  3/ 

coin,  to  redeem  all  called  in  by  proclamation  within 
a  month  and  to  be  then  melted  down  and  returned  to 
him,  and  to  pay  a  fine  of  forty  pounds  towards  the  build- 
ing of  the  Court-house,  and  to  stand  committed  till 
paid,  and  then  to  find  security  for  his  fijture  conduct. 
Samuel  Buckley  is  fined  for  being  concerned  in  the 
same  ten  pounds  to  go  towards  the  Court-house,  and 
to  find  security  for  his  behavior.  Robert  Fenton,  a 
servant  concerned  in  the  same,  to  sit  in  the  stocks  one 
hour  the  following  morning. 

During  9th  month,  or  November,  we  find  little  tran- 
spiring of  interest.  William  Beekman  sent  a  letter  to 
Penn,  dated  New  York,  November  4th,  in  which  he 
says  that  two  days  after  his  departure  from  thence  he 
delivered  a  letter  to  William  Frampton  enclosing  a 
copy  of  an  agreement  or  deed  for  the  land  between 
Cape  Henlopen  and  Bombay  Hook,  and  also  a  copy 
of  the  capitulation  made  in  1655  between  the  Swedish 
and  the  Dutch  Governors.  In  examining  his  journal, 
found  mention  therein  of  a  visit  made  to  the  Delaware 
in  1663  by  Lord  Baltimore,  Chancellor  Calvert,  Colo- 
nel Utie  and  others,  and  though  they  remained  there 
five  or  six  days,  they  set  up  no  claim  to  any  part  of 
said  territory,     (i.) 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  7th  and  2 1  st,  at  which  the  Governor  presided. 
But  little  business  was  transacted,  after  which  they  ad- 
journed to  the  following  month. 

Edward  Claypoole,  who  had  embarked  at  Gravesend, 


138  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  shortly  after  his  arrival,  in  a  letter  to  his  brother 
James,  a  merchant  of  London,  dated  Philadelphia,  2d 
of  loth  month,  1683.  **  Where,"  he  says,  **  I  found  my 
servant  had  builded  me  a  house  like  a  barn  without  a 
chimney,  forty  by  twenty  feet  vith  a  good  dry  cellar 
under  it,  which  proved  an  extraordinary  conveniency 
for  receiving  our  goods  and  lodging  my  family."  In 
regard  to  land,  expresses  the  opinion  that  "  people 
come  in  so  fast  that  it  is  like  to  be  much  dearer  in  a 
little  time.  As  judged  about  one  thousand  acres 
being  now  worth  ^40  sterling."  This  denotes  a  con- 
siderable immigration  at  this  time. 

On  the  15  th,  William  Clark  writes  from  Lewis,  Sus- 
sex county,  to  the  "  Dear  Governor  "  to  inform  him, 
"  That  thine  of  the  23d  of  9th  month,  and  one  by  the 
hands  of  John  Hill,  with  no  date,  came  to  my  hands, 
and  had  no  opportunity  to  send  an  answer  until  now. 
As  to  Lord  Baltimore's  pretensions  to  these  parts  I 
hear  nothing  of,  and  things  being  quiet.  I  did  intend, 
according  to  thy  order  that  my  wife  should  have  pickled 
some  oysters  to  send  to  thee.  In  order  to  obtain  them 
I  sent  my  servants,  but  it  being  at  the  beginning  of  the 
severe  weather,  they  were  forced  to  leave  the  canoe 
with  its  contents,  but  as  soon  as  it  is  fit  I  shall  give  it 
my  attention." 

Respecting  the  boundary  dispute  with  Baltimore, 
Penn  received  a  letter  from  Nicholas  Bayard,  of  New 
York,  dated  December  23d,  '83;  and  from  the  interest 
it  possesses  give  it  in  full.     It  is  likely  has  never  been 


ADDITIONAL    BOUNDARY    TROUBLES.  1 39 

published  before,  and  to  suit  our  purpose  have  taken 
some  liberties  with  its  style. 

"  Honourable  Sir.  Since  your  departure  I  have 
made  an  inquiry  by  Mr.  Frederick  Philips  concerning 
your  affairs,  but  as  I  told  them  then,  I  find  by  him 
nothing  which  is  material,  for  he  came  in  the  country 
in  the  year  165  i,  and  is  very  ignorant  of  what  is  past 
in  any  country  affairs  about  that  time.  I  have  made  it 
my  business  to  speak  with  several  of  the  old  standers 
in  the  country,  but  the  most  having  been  private  per- 
sons and  without  public  employ,  can  likewise  give  no 
account  what  right  the  Dutch  formerly  had  in  your 
parts  of  Delaware,  only  that  they  had  possession  and 
built  forts  there  long  before  the  year  1638  ;  of  which  I 
can  procure  several  testimonies  if  you  desire  the  same, 
but  I  question  not  you  may  have  such  process  more 
ample  from  Peter  Cock  in  Timor  and  other  old  inhabi- 
tants in  your  colony.  I  have  earnestly  desired  my 
friend  Van  Rivyvan  to  Furnish  me  from  Holland  with 
all  he  can  give  or  can  procure  in  your  behalf,  and  am 
assured  he  will  not  be  wanting  therein,  and  I  promised 
him  satisfaction,  and  to  place  it  to  my  account  for  what 
charge  he  should  be  at  for  the  land.  Here  enrclosed  is 
a  copy  of  a  protest  I  found  in  the  records  since  your 
departure,  if  it  may  be  of  any  service  you  may  have  a 
copy  of  the  same  attested  by  Mr.  West  or  some  public 
officer,  and  wherein  I  may  be  further  able  to  serve  you. 
Please  freely  to  command  your  very  humble  servant, 
(i.)  Nicholas  Bayard." 


140  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

The  Governor  held  a  meeting  of  the  Council  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  26th,  at  which  the  following  mem- 
bers were  present :  Wm.  Clayton,  Wm.  Hague  and 
Lasse  Cock,  On  this  occasion  the  minutes  state  that 
"  The  Governor  and  Provincial  Council  having  taken 
into  their  serious  consideration  the  great  necessity- 
there  is  of  a  schoolmaster  for  the  instruction  and  sober 
education  of  youth  in  the  town  of  Philadelphia,  sent 
for  Enoch  Flower,  an  inhabitant  of  the  said  town,  who 
for  twenty  years  past  hath  been  exercised  in  that  care 
and  employment  in  England,  to  whom  having  com- 
municated their  minds  he  embraced  it  upon  the  follow- 
ing terms :  to  learn  to  read  English  four  shillings  by 
the  quarter,  to  learn  to  read  and  write  six  shillings, 
to  learn  to  read,  write  and  cast  accounts  eight  shil- 
lings ;  for  boarding  a  scholar,  that  is  to  say,  diet,  wash- 
ing, lodging  and  schooling,  ten  pounds  for  one  whole 
year."  This  action  is  highly  creditable  to  Penn  and 
his  Council,  and  shows  that  there  was  a  desire  even 
at  this  early  period,  when  the  city  had  not  yet  been 
laid  out  much  over  a  year,  that  the  education  of  youth 
be  encouraged.  A  meeting  of  the  Council  was  held 
the  next  day,  when  they  adjourned  to  the  following 
month. 

It  is  remarkable  how  a  few  documents,  without  an 
intimate  relation  as  to  their  general  contents,  may  yet 
disclose  and  establish  important  facts.  The  Hon.  Wm. 
A.  Yeakle,  a  life-long  resident  of  the  valley  of  the  Wissa- 
hickon,  in  Whitemarsh,  informed  the  author  a  few  years 


VISITS    UMBILICAMENCE.  I4I 

ago,  that  he  had  discovered,  from  a  deed  of  1 746,  that  his 
section  had  formed  "a  part  of  the  lands  by  the  Indians 
called  Urnbilicamence."  As  the  name  appeared  not 
unfamiliar,  it  suggested  to  us  to  make  an  examination  of 
Thomas  Fairman's  bill  of  charges  (Penn-Physick  MSS.) 
against  William  Penn,  commencing  with  the  year  1682, 
wherein  is  found  mentioned  an  indebtedness  '*  To  a 
journey  with  the  Proprietor  and  his  friends  to  Umbo- 
lekimensin  with  3  of  my  horses,  12  shillings."  After 
some  further  research  among  the  warrants  for  surveys 
the  following  was  discovered  : 

"  L.  S.  William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  Territories  thereunto  belonging. 
At  the  request  of  Jasper  F'armer,  Junior,  in  the  behalf 
of  his  father,  Major  Jasper  Farmer,  his  brother  Richard 
and  himself,  that  I  would  grant  him  to  take  up  five 
thousand  acres  of  land,  being  of  the  lands  by  the 
Indians  called  Umbilicamence,  fronting  on  one  end 
upon  the  River  Schuylkill.  These  are  to  will  and  re- 
quire thee  forthwith  to  survey  or  cause  to  be  surveyed 
unto  him  the  said  five  thousand  acres  in  the  aforemen- 
tioned place  where  not  already  taken  up,  according  to 
the  method  of  townships  appointed  by  me,  and  make 
return  thereof  unto  my  Secretary's  office.  Given  at 
Philadelphia  the  31st  of  lOth  month,  1683. 

Wm.  Penn. 

"  For  Thomas  Holmes,  Surveyor-General." 
The  several  aforesaid  papers  now  establish  the  in- 


142  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

teresting  information  that  William  Penn,  in  company 
with  Thomas  Fairman  and  several  friends,  made  a 
journey  on  horseback  out  there  some  time  in  the  sum- 
mer or  fall  of  1683,  on  purpose  to  view  that  section  of 
country.  The  distance  from  Philadelphia  not  exceed- 
ing fourteen  miles,  and  in  coming  hither  no  doubt 
passed  by  where  is  now  Chestnut  Hill  and  Flourtown. 
The  termination  of  the  trip  was  no  doubt  in  the  vicinity 
of  where  the  Farmers  made  their  settlement  some  two 
years  later,  and  near  where  St.  Thomas'  Episcopal 
Church  was  erected.  As  an  early  Indian  settlement 
is  mentioned  there,  it  is  very  probable  that  its  name 
was  Umbilicamence.  For  it  was  here  where  Edward 
Farmer,  Nicholas  Scull  and  John  Scull  acquired  their 
early  knowledge  of  the  Delaware  Indian  language 
from  the  natives,  and  that  enabled  them  on  several 
subsequent  occasions  to  act  as  interpreters  on  behalf  of 
the  provincial  government. 

Immediately  adjoining  the  Farmer  tract  on  the 
southeast  lay  Gulielma  Maria  Penn's  Mannor,"  con- 
taining four  thousand  and  ten  acres  surveyed  by  Fair- 
man.  From  his  bill  of  charges  we  learn  that  he  and 
the  Proprietary  had  made  a  journey  on  purpose  "  to 
look  out  some  land"  that  was  "afterwards  named 
Springfield."  This  must  have  been  made  also  about 
the  aforesaid  tinie.  This  tract  was  a  good  selection, 
the  land  fertile  and  abounding  in  an  abundance  of  ex- 
cellent limestone  and  iron-ore. 


43 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MORE   OF    PENX'S    CORRESPONDENCE. PRESIDES    AT  A 

TRIAL    FOR    WITCHCRAFT. 

\^  January  and  February,  i6837\ 

We  have  now  arrived  near  the  close  of  the  year 
1683,  old  style,  and  the  persecution  of  the  Friends 
still  continues,  but  not  with  that  rigor  as  formerly. 
Though  Charles  II.  was  induced  to  discountenance  it, 
yet  through  the  indifference  of  those  in  power,  consider- 
able distress  prevailed.  In  consequence,  Penn  did  not 
remain  unconcerned  in  regard  to  his  suffering  brethren, 
for  they  had  his  warmest  sympathies,  with  an  earnest 
desire  to  use  his  influence  to  procure  them  all  the  relief 
he  possibly  could.  It  is  probable  that  in  Ireland  they 
were  more  harshly  dealt  with  than  in  England,  which 
induced  the  Proprietary,  as  we  have  seen,  amidst  his 
numerous  cares  and  vexations  here  to  address  a  letter 
on  the  9th  of  i  ith  month  to  the  Earl  of  Arran,  Lord 
Deputy  of  the  former,  whom  he  calls,  "  My  Noble 
and  Old  Friend,"  desiring  him  to  exercise  his  sympa- 
thies in  their  behalf  It  is  of  considerable  length  and 
in   it  expresses  himself  strongly  in  favor  of  liberty  of 


144  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

conscience  in  matters  relating  to  religion,  and  hopes 
that  persecution  therefore  may  cease.  He  concludes 
with  the  following  information  respecting  the  prov- 
ince : 

"  I  thank  God  I  am  safely  arrived  in  the  province 
that  the  providence  of  God  and  bounty  of  the  King 
hath  made  it  mine ;  and  which  the  credit,  prudence 
and  industry  of  the  people  concerned  with  me  must 
render  considerable.  I  was  received  by  the  ancient 
inhabitants  with  much  kindness  and  respect ;  and  the 
rest  brought  it  with  them.  There  may  be  about  four 
thousand  souls  in  all;  I  speak  I  think  within  com- 
pass ;  We  expect  an  increase  from  France,  Holland 
and  Germany  as  well  as  our  native  country.  The 
land  is  generally  good,  well  watered  and  not  so  thick 
of  woods  as  imagined.  There  are  also  many  open 
places  that  have  been  old  Indian  fields.  The  days  are 
above  two  hours  longer  and  the  sun  much  hotter  here 
than  with  you,  which  makes  some  recompence  for  the 
sharp  nights  of  the  winter  season,  as  well  as  the  woods 
that  makes  cheap  and  great  fires.  Our  town  of  Phila- 
delphia is  seated  between  two  navigable  rivers,  having 
from  four  to  ten  fathom  water,  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  houses  up  in  one  year,  and  four  hundred  county 
settlements.  We  labor  to  render  ourselves  an  indus- 
trious colony  to  the  honor  and  benefit  of  the  Crown  as 
well  as  our  own  comfort  and  advantage,  and  let  them 
not  be  separated  say  I." 

From   Philadelphia  on  the  2d  of  I2th  month,  Penn 


PRESIDES   AT    A    TRIAL.  I45 

addressed  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Rochester,  respecting 
his  troubles  with  Lord  Baltimore,  and  commences  it 
with  the  following  forcible  introduction,  "  My  Noble 
Friend, — It  cannot  be  strange  to  a  lord  of  so  much  ex- 
perience, that  in  nature,  all  creatures  seek  succour  against 
might ;  the  young  from  their  old  and  the  feeble  from 
the  strong,  and  that  the  same  nature,  by  reciprocal  in- 
stinct, inspires  the  old  to  protect  their  young,  and  the 
strong  the  weak  of  their  own  kind.  This,  my  noble 
Lord,  is  much  my  case  and  this  trouble ;  and  to  whom 
can  I  go,  with  more  reason  and  hope  than  to  him  that 
hath,  with  so  much  honour  and  truth  and  a  perpetual 
success,  been  the  kind  and  constant  patron  of  my  just 
cause.  Let  this  therefore,  noble  Lord,  meet  with  thy 
usual  favour ;  which  will  add  to  the  many  bonds  I  am 
under,  in  affection  and  gratitude  to  thy  just  interest 
and  service." 

After  which  follows  a  lengthy  defence  of  his  claims 
to  the  Three  Lower  Counties,  and  in  which  he  also 
sets  forth  his  position,  based  on  the  settlements  there  by 
the  Dutch  and  Swedes,  against  whom  previously  the 
Proprietary  of  Maryland  had  not  set  up  any  claims 
even  to  a  part  of  the  same. 

On  the  9th  he  addressed  a  second  letter  to  the 
Marquis  of  Halifax  in  reference  to  his  boundary  dis- 
pute. In  it  he  gives  some  interesting  information  in 
regard  to  the  condition,  prosperity  and  future  prospects 
of  his  colony.  "  I  hope,"  he  states  therein,  "  my  agent 
.10 


146  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

hath  presented  thee  with  my  last  and  the  respects 
I  bear  so  honourable  a  friend.  Our  capital  town  is 
advanced  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  very  tolerable 
houses  for  wooden  ones ;  they  are  chiefly  on  both  the 
navigable  rivers  that  bound  the  ends  or  sides  of  the 
town.  The  farmers  have  got  their  winter  corn  in  the 
ground.  I  suppose  we  may  be  five  hundred  farmers 
strong.  I  settle  them  in  villages,  dividing  five  thou- 
sand acres  among  ten,  fifteen  or  twenty  families,  as 
their  ability  is  to  plant  it.  Germans,  Dutch  and  French 
are  concerned  in  our  prosperity  with  their  own.  The 
Germans  are  fallen  upon  flax  and  hemp,  the  French  on 
vineyards.  Here  grow  wild  an  incredible  number  of 
vines,  that  though  savage  and  not  so  excellent,  beside 
that  much  wood  and  shade  sour  them.  They  yield  a 
pleasant  grape,  and  I  have  drunk  a  good  claret,  though 
small  and  greenish,  of  Capt.  Rapp's  vintage  of  the 
savage  grape. 

"  I  must  without  vanity  say,  I  have  led  the  greatest 
colony  into  America,  that  any  man  did  upon  a  private 
credit,  and  the  most  prosperous  beginnings  that  ever 
were  in  it,  are  to  be  found  amongst  us ;  and,  if  this 
lord  who  may  remember  that  his  country  was  cut  out 
of  Virginia,  to  the  great  abatement  of  the  interest  of 
that  province,  and  this  not  for  debt,  or  salaries  due,  but 
.as  mere  grace  shall  carry  away  this  poor  ewe  lamb  too, 
my  voyage  will  be  a  ruinous  one  to  me  and  my 
partners,  which  God  defend.  And  my  honourable 
friend,   I   shall   only  pray  that   my    case   may  be   re- 


PRESIDES    AT    A    TRIAL.  1 47 

membered  and  recommended  to  the  King  by  my  noble 
friend  the  Marquis  of  Halifax." 

Thomas  Paschall,  a  factor  of  a  Jean  Company  in 
Chippenham,  England,  wrote  during  a  residence  here 
"  A  Short  Account  of  Pennsylvania,"  to  which  he  ap- 
pended his  name  and  bears  the  date  of  Philadelphia, 
February  loth,  1683  ;  its  object  appears  to  be  to  en- 
courage emigration  hither.  It  is  likely  that  it  was 
first  published  in  England  and  afterwards  translated 
into  German.  The  copy  seen  by  us  was  printed  at 
Frankfort  and  Leipzig  in  1 700,  and  circulated  by  the 
Land  Company  there.  It  occupies  but  three  pages  and 
to  this  work  can  furnish  nothing  additional ;  however, 
at  this  early  period  of  Penn's  settlement  is  deserving  of 
notice.  All  we  have  been  enabled  to  ascertain  further 
about  Paschall  is  that  he  resided  in  Philadelphia  the 
17th  of  7th  month,  1701,  when  his  name  is  found  in  a 
petition  addressed  to  the  Assembly. 

We  find  the  following  compliment  paid  to  Penn  in  a 
letter  by  James  Claypoole,*  dated  Philadelphia,  24th 
of  1 2th  month,  and  addressed  to  his  friend,  Gawan 
Lawrie:  "William  Penn,  our  Governor,  has  been  ex- 
ceedingly kind,  and  is  so  still  to  me  and  my  family  as 
if  we  were  his  nearest  relations,  and  I  hope  his  love 
will  continue.  Truly,  he. is  very  precious  in  his  testi- 
mony and  conversation,  and  we  may  be  sure  he  takes 


KfV*  Formerly  a  merchant  in  London,  and  had  only  recently  arrived  here.  Became 
Register  of  Wills,  and  died  in  1687.  To  his  MS.  Letter  Book  we  are  indebted  for 
valuable  information. 


148  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

counsel  of  the  Lord,  for  there  is  much  of  the  wisdom 
that  is  from  above  manifest  in  his  conduct  and  manage- 
ment of  affairs  here,  by  which  he  is  made  a  fit  instru- 
ment in  the  hand  of  the  Lord  for  the  work  and  service 
he  is  called  to,  and  I  wish  with  all  my  heart  that  all 
the  Governors  upon  the  earth  were  such  as  he  is.  I 
and  my  wife  and  eight  children  are  all  at  this  place  in 
good  health,  and  so  have  been  mostly  since  we  came^ 
John  my  eldest  writes  for  the  Register,  James  is  book- 
keeper to  the  Society." 

A  meeting  of  the  Council  was  held  by  Penn  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  7th  of  this  (12th)  month,  at  which 
Lasse  Cock,  Wm.  Clayton,  John  Symcock  and  Thomas 
Holme  were  present.  Margaret  Matson  and  Getro 
Hendrickson  were  examined  and  about  to  be  proved 
witches,  whereupon  it  was  ordered  that  Neels  Matson 
should  enter  into  recognizance  of  fifty  pounds  for  his 
wife's  appearance  before  this  board  on  the  27th  instant, 
and  that  Jacob  Hendrickson  be  required  to  do  the  same 
for  his  wife.  Meetings  of  the  board  were  held  on  the 
20th  and  2 1st,  but  nothing  transacted  of  special  in- 
terest. 

On  the  27th,  the  Governor  was  present  with  James 
Harrison,  Wm.  Biles,  Lasse  Cock,  Wm.  Hague,  Chris- 
topher Taylor,  Wm.  Clayton  and  Thomas  Holme, 
members  of  the  Council.  The  Grand  Jury  made  a 
return  and  found  a  bill.  Margaret  Matson's  indict- 
ment was  read,  and  pleads  not  guilty.  Lasse  Cock 
was  attested  interpreter  between  the  Proprietary  and 


PRESIDES   AT   A   TRIAL.  1 49 

the  prisoner.  A  jury  of  twelve  was  impanneled,  of 
which  John  Hastings  was  foreman.  Henry  Drystreet, 
attested,  said  he  was  told  twenty  years  ago  that  the 
prisoner  was  a  witch,  and  that  several  cows  were  be- 
witched by  her.  James  Sandeland's  mother  told  him 
she  had  bewitched  her  cow  but  afterwards  saw  it  was 
a  mistake,  for  it  was  not  her  cow  but  another  person's 
that  should  die.  Charles  Ashcom,  attested,  says  that 
Anthony's  wife  being  asked  why  she  sold  her  cattle ; 
because  her  mother  had  bewitched  them,  having  taken 
it  off  of  Hendrick's  cattle  and  put  it  on  their  oxen, 
which  sjie  might  keep,  but  no  other  cattle.  Margaret 
Matson  says  she  values  not  Drystreet's  evidence ;  but 
if  Sandeland's  mother  had  came  she  would  have  an- 
swered her,  and  also  denies  Charles  Ashcom's  evi- 
dence. Anneky  Cooling's  evidence  concerning  the 
geese  she  denies,  saying  she  was  never  out  of  her  ca- 
noe. The  prisoner  denies  the  evidence,  and  that  they 
speak  only  from  hearsay.  After  which  the  Governor 
gave  the  jury  their  charge,  who  brought  her  in  guilty 
of  having  the  common  fame  of  a  witch,  but  not  guilty 
in  manner  and  form  as  she  stands  indicted.  Neels 
Matson  and  Anthony  Neelson  were  required  to  enter 
into  a  recognizance  of  fifty  pounds  each  for  the  good 
behavior  of  Margaret  Matson  for  six  months,  and  Jacob 
Hendrickson  in  fifty  pounds  under  the  same  conditions 
for  his  wife. 

In  the  trial  of  such  an   extraordinary  case  we  have 
concluded  to  be  as  full  as  our  information  would  per- 


150  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

mit  The  parties  were  all  Swedes  and  appear  to  have 
been  ignorant  of  the  English  language,  the  proceedings 
being  conducted  by  Lasse  Cock  and  James  Claypoole 
as  interpreters.  The  Governor's  charge  to  the  jury  at 
this  day  would  possess  considerable  interest.  We  shall 
find  after  his  return  in  1 701,  of  his  presiding  at  another 
trial  for  witchcraft  in  which  the  parties  appear  to  have 
been  all  English.  No  doubt  the  sentiment  concerning 
it  was  stronger  than  is  now  generally  supposed. 


THE    WELSH    TRACT.  I5I 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    WELSH    TRACT. LETTERS    TO    THE    DUKE    OF 

YORK    AND    OTHERS. 

{March-July,  i684.'\ 

About  this  time  a  considerable  body  of  Welsh  Friends 
designed  emigrating  to  this  country,  and  through  their 
agents  an  arrangement  was  effected  with  Penn  in  Eng- 
land, for  the  purchase  and  location  in  one  great  tract 
of  about  forty  thousand  acres,  which  they  proposed  to 
settle  and  thus  be  enabled  to  live  contigiously  to  each 
other  at  no  great  distance  from  the  city.  In  conse- 
quence the  Proprietary  issued  the  following  warrant 
to  the  Surveyor  General  to  have  the  same  laid  out : 

"  Whereas  divers  considerable  persons  among  the 
Welsh  Friends  have  requested  me  that  all  the  lands 
purchased  of  me  by  those  of  North  Wales  and  South 
Wales,  together  with  the  adjacent  counties  to  them,  as 
Haverfordshire,  Shropshire  and  Cheshire,  about  forty 
thousand  acres,  may  be  laid  out  contigiously  as  one 
Barony,  alleging  that  the  number  already  come  and 
suddenly  come,  are  such  as  will  be  capable  of  planting 
the  same  much  within  the  proportion  allowed  by  the 
custom  of  the  country  and  so  not  lye  in  large  and  use- 
less vacancies.     And  because  I  am  inclined  and  deter- 


152  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

mined  to  agree  and  favour  them  with  any  reasonable 
conveniency  and  priviledge  :  I  do  hereby  charge  thee 
and  strictly  require  thee  to  lay  out  the  said  tract  of  land 
in  as  uniform  a  manner,  as  conveniently  may  be,  upon 
the  west  side  of  Schuylkill  river  running  three  miles 
upon  the  same,  and  two  miles  backward,  and  then  ex- 
tend the  parellel  with  the  river  six  miles  and  to  run  west- 
wardly  so  far  as  till  the  said  quantity  of  land  be  com- 
pletely surveyed  unto  them. — Given  at  Pennsbury,  the 
13th  I  mo.  1684.  Wm.  Penn." 

On  the  4th  of  the  following  month  (April),  Thomas 
Holme,  the  Surveyor  General,  authorized  his  deputy 
David  Powell  to  proceed  in  laying  out  the  same  con- 
formably to  the  Proprietary's  instructions.  This  formed 
what  has  been  ever  since  known  as  the  Welsh  Tract, 
and  from  which  the  townships  of  Merion,  Haverford, 
Goshen  and  others  subsequently  originated.  The 
aforesaid  bounds  as  fixed  by  Penn  possess  quite  an  in- 
terest and  have  hitherto  escaped  the  notice  of  historians, 
being  derived  from  the  records  of  the  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral's office,  Harrisburg.  At  this  time  they  must  have 
settled  on  it  rapidly,  judging  not  long  after  by  their 
numbers.  Oldmixon,  who  was  here  in  1 708,  in  speak- 
ing of  this  tract  and  the  Welsh,  says  that  it  then  was 
"very  populous,  and  the  people  are  very  industrious ; 
by  which  means  this  country  is  better  cleared  than  any 
other  part  of  the  county.  The  inhabitants  have  many 
fine  plantations  of  corn,  and  breed  abundance  of  cattle, 


THE    WELSH    TRACT.  1 53 

inasmuch  that  they  are  looked  upon  to  be  as  thriving  and 
wealthy  as  any  in  the  province — and  this  must  always 
be  said  of  the  Welsh,  that  wherever  they  come,  'tis  not 
their  fault  if  they  do  not  live,  and  live  well,  too ;  for 
they  seldom  spare  for  labor,  which  seldom  fails  of  suc- 
cess." 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  by  the  Governor 
in  Philadelphia  on  the  20th,  2  ist,  24th,  26th,  27th,  28th, 
29th  and  31st,  and  at  all  of  which  he  was  present.  It 
is,  therefore,  certain  that  he  must  have  spent  all  or  the 
greater  portion  of  the  previous  winter  in  the  city,  visiting 
only  for  a  few  days  Pennsbury  near  the  middle  of  this 
the  first  spring  month. 

During  2d  month,  or  April,  the  Proprietary  held 
meetings  with  the  Council  on  the  ist,  2d,  3d,  7th  and 
8th;  spending  a  few  days  again  at  Pennsbury  between 
the  4th  and  7th. 

We  are  reaching  now  a  period  in  the  celebrated 
boundary  dispute  in  which  the  respective  parties  are 
proceeding  to  open  hostilities  for  the  arrest  of  each 
other's  authorities  in  the  enforcement  of  what  they 
deem  their  respective  rights.  In  consequence,  Penn 
issued  on  the  6th  the  following  commission  to  secure 
his  territory  from  the  encroachments  of  his  unwearied 
neighboring  Proprietary. 

"To  my  trusty  and  loving  friends,  Wm.  Welsh,  John 
Simcock  and  James  Harrison,  greeting :  Being  credi- 
bly informed  that  a  party  of  men  armed  some  with  guns 
and  others  with  axes,  under  the  command  of  Col.  George 


154  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Talbot,  have  in  a  riotous  manner  invaded  the  right  of 
some  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Castle  County,  under  pre- 
tence of  a  Commission  from  Charles  Calvert,  Proprietary 
of  Maryland,  these  are  to  empower  you,  or  any  two  of 
you,  to  raise  the  country  and  to  grant  Commissions  to 
such  as  you  shall  see  cause  to  raise  the  country,  and 
likewise  to  charge  and  command  both  you  and  them 
by  the  King's  Authority  derived  to  me  by  the  assign- 
ment of  James  Duke  York  and  Albany,  to  take  all 
due  care,  and  that  with  all  possible  speed,  to  keep  and 
maintain  peace  of  our  sovereign  lord  the  King,  and  to 
suppress  all  riotous  and  rebellious  practices,  and  them 
to  apprehend  and  imprison  whom  you  shall  so  find 
therein,  that  they  may  be  proceeded  against  accord- 
ing to  law,  and  as  also  to  secure  all  persons  as  refuse 
or  neglect  to  assist  you  in  this  service,  and  whom  you 
have  cause  to  suspect  may  be  unfaithful  to  the  govern- 
ment, and  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  sufficient 
warrant.  Given  at  Pennsbury,  this  6th  of  the  2  mo. 
'84,  being  the  36th  year  of  the  King's  reign." 

The  Assembly  met  at  New  Castle  on  the  loth  of  3d 
month,  to  which,  at  the  same  time,  the  Governor  ad- 
journed his  Council,  which  continued  ip  session  there 
till  the  22d,  when  they  adjourned  to  Philadelphia  where 
they  met  on  the  29th  and  the  two  following  days.  On 
the  loth  the  Governor  informed  the  Council  that  he 
had  called  the  Indians  together,  and  proposed  to  them 
to  let  them  have  rum  if  they  would  be  satisfied  to  be 
punished  as  the  English  were  ;  which  they  agreed  to, 


THE    WELSH    TRACT.  I  55 

provided  that  the  law  of  not  selling  them  rum  be 
abolished.  In  a  case  between  Andrew  Johnson, 
plaintiff,  and  Hans  Peterson,  defendant,  the  Governor, 
and  Council  advised  them  to  shake  hands,  and  to  for- 
give each  other,  which  they  accordingly  did,  and  for 
their  future  good  behavior  were  ordered  to  enter  into 
bonds  of  fifty  pounds  each. 

The  Governor  held  meetings  of  the  Council  in  Phila- 
delphia on  the  3d,  4th,  I  ith,  1 2th,  1 8th  and  19th  of  this 
(4th)  month.  On  the  1 8th  he  read  the  Declaration  con- 
cerning the  difference  between  Lord  Baltimore  and 
himself,  desiring  the  Council's  approbation ;  who  ap- 
proved of  it,  but  suggested  that  some  things  mentioned 
therein  might  for  the  present  be  omitted. 

In  consideration  of  two  matchcoats,  four  pair  of 
stockings,  and  four  bottles  of  cider  Maughoughsin, 
grants  under  his  hand  and  seal  at  Philadelphia  the  3d 
of  5th  month,  1684;  all  his  land  upon  Pahkehoma  to 
William  Penn,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  "  with 
which  I  own  myself  satisfied  and  promise  never  to 
molest  any  Christians  so  called  that  shall  seat  thereon 
by  his  orders."  This  has  reference  to  the  lands  on  the 
Perkiomen  creek  in  the  present  Montgomery  county. 

On  the  7th  another  purchase  was  made  by  Penn  at 
Philadelphia,  from  Richard  Mettamicont,  as  owner 
of  the  land  on  both  sides  of  Pennepack  creek 
to  the  river  Delaware,  and  hereby  agrees  "never 
to  molest  or  trouble  any  Christians  so  called  settled 
upon  any  part  of  the  aforesaid  land."       Poor  Indians, 


156  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

though  they  and  their  lands  have  long  since  parted,  we 
believe  they  faithfully  adhered  to  the  aforesaid  condi- 
tions. In  regard  to  these  purchases,  Oldmixon  very 
sensibly  observes  in  his  "  British  Empire  in  America," 
that  "  As  soon  as  Mr.  Penn  had  got  his  patent,  he  in- 
vited several  persons  to  purchase  lands  under  it.  He 
did  not  satisfy  himself  with  the  title  granted  by  Charles 
II.  and  his  brother  he  also  bought  the  land  of  the  In- 
dians, which  doubtless,  was  the  best  right  he  had  on 
them." 

We  need  not  wonder  at  the  energy  displayed  by 
Penn  to  secure  himself  against  the  encroachments  of 
Lord  Baltimore.  The  claims  set  up  by  the  latter,  if 
successful,  would  have  taken  all  the  lands  in  the 
province  south  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  including 
the  three  lower  counties  or  territories.  It  would  have 
deprived  him  of  several  sea  ports  and  the  command  of 
Delaware  Bay.  He  very  justly  observes,  "  If  the  Lord 
Baltimore's  patent  were  title  good  enough  for  what  was 
another's  before,  and  which  he  never  enjoyed  since, 
Connecticut  colony  might  put  in  for  New  York  as 
reasonably  as  the  Lord  Baltimore  can  for  Delaware, 
their  patent  having  that  part  of  the  Dutch  territories 
within  its  bounds,  on  the  same  mistake.  I  must  take 
leave  to  refer  the  Lord  Baltimore  to  His  Royal  High- 
ness, who  is  a  prince,  doubtless,  of  too  much  honour 
to  keep  any  man's  right,  and  of  too  much  resolution 
to  deliver  up  his  own ;  whose  example  I  am  resolved 
to  follow." 


TO    THE    DUKE   OF   YORK.  1 57 

In  addition,  the  Proprietary  resolved  to  send  a  letter 
to  his  friend  the  Duke  of  York,  setting  forth  his 
grievances  and  the  difficulties  he  labored  under,  with  an 
intimation  that  he  would  shortly  follow  Lord  Balti- 
more to  England,  with  a  view  to  giving  personally  his 
attention  to  the  great  interests  at  stake.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy  of  the  address : 

TO    THE    DUKE    OF   YORK. 

"  Great  Prince. — It  is  some  security  to  me,  and  an 
happiness  I  must  own  and  honour,  that  in  these  my 
humble  and  plain  addresses,  I  have  to  do  with  a  Prince 
of  so  great  justice  and  resolution,  one  that  will  not  be 
baffled  by  crafts,  nor  blinded  by  affection  ;  and  such  a 
Prince  with  humility  be  it  spoken,  becometh  the  just 
cause  I  have  to  lay  before  him. 

"  Since  my  last,  by  which  I  gave  the  Duke  to  under- 
stand that  the  Lord  Baltimore  had  sent  agents  to  offer 
terms  to  the  people,  to  draw  them  from  their  obedience 
of  this  government,  where  his  Royal  Highness  had 
placed  them,  and  that  without  having  any  special 
order  for  the  same,  it  hath  pleased  that  lord  to  com- 
missionate  Colonel  George  Talbot  to  come,  with 
armed  men,  within  five  miles  of  New  Castle  town, 
there  upon  a  spot  of  ground  belonging  to  one  Ogle, 
that  came  with  Captain  Carr,  to  reduce  that  place  by 
force,  erected  a  fort  of  the  bodies  of  trees,  raised  a 
breastwork,  and  palisaded  the  same,  and  settled  armed 
men  therein.  The  president  of  that  town  and  county, 
together  with   the  sheriff  and   divers  magistrates  and 


158  WM,  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

inhabitants  of  the  same,  went  to  the  said  fort,  demanded 
of  Colonel  George  Talbot  the  reasons  of  such  actions, 
being  a  warlike  invasion  of  the  right  of  his  Majesty's 
subjects,  never  in  his  possession.  He  answered  them, 
after  having  bid  them  stand  off,  presenting  guns  and 
muskets  at  their  breasts,  that  he  had  Lord  Baltimore's 
commission  for  what  he  did.  The  president  being  an 
old  experienced  man,  advised  him  to  depart,  and  to 
take  heed  how  he  obeyed  such  commands  as  these 
were,  since  acting  in  such  a  way  of  hostility  against 
the  right  of  his  Majesty's  subjects  not  in  rebellion,  and 
not  by  his  commission,  might  cost  him  and  his  lord 
dear  in  the  issue.  He  still  refused,  upon  which  proc- 
lamations were  made  in  the  King's  name,  that  they 
should  depart,  but  he,  with  some  more,  would  not 
depart  but  in  the  name  of  Lord  Baltimore,  refusing  to 
go  in  the  King's  name ;  and  there  the  garrison  is  kept, 
the  commander  and  soldiers  threatening  to  fire  upon 
and  kill  all  such  as  shall  endeavor  to  demolish  the 
block-house,  and  say  they  have  express  commands  so 
to  do  from  that  lord. 

"  How  far  these  practices  will  please  the  King  or 
Duke  is  not  fit  for  me  to  say ;  but,  if  not  mistaken,  I 
shall  be  able  to  make  evident  by  law,  he  hath  almost 
cancelled  his  allegiance  to  the  King  herein,  and  ex- 
posed himself  to  his  mercy  for  all  he  hath  in  the 
world.  I  hear  he  has  gone  for  England,  and  was  so 
just  to  invite  me  by  a  letter  in  March,  delivered  in  the 
end  of  April,  informing  me  that  towards  the  end  of 


TO    THE    DUKE    OF    YORK.  1 59 

March  he  intended  for  England.  This  was  contrived 
that  he  rnight  get  the  start  of  me,  that  making  an  in- 
terest before  I  arrived,  he  might  block  up  my  way, 
and  carry  the  point.  But  such  arts  will  never  do, 
where  there  is  no  matter  to  work  upon,  which  I  am 
abundantly  satisfied  they  will  not,  they  cannot  find  in 
the  Duke,  with  whom  I  know  he  hath  great  reason  to 
ingratiate  his  cause  and  malconduct,  if  he  could. 

"  I  am  following  him  as  fast  as  I  can,  though 
Colonel  Talbot,  since  his  departure,  threatened  to  turn 
such  out  by  violence,  as  would  not  submit  to  him,  and 
drive  their  stocks  for  arrears :  believing  that  the  worse 
the  better,  I  mean  the  more  illegal  and  disrespectful  he 
and  his  agents  are,  to  His  Majesty  and  Royal  High- 
ness, and  humble  and  patient  I  am,  they  will  the  more 
favour  my  so  much  abused  interest.  I  add  no  more, 
but  to  pray,  that  a  perfect  stop  be  put  to  all  his  pro- 
ceedings till  I  come,  who  hope  to  show  myself  the 
King's  dutiful  and  in  reference  to  his  American 
Empire,  not  unuseful  subject,  and  as  well  the  Duke's 
most  faithful  friend,  to  serve  him  to  my  power, 

William  Penn. 

"  Philadelphia,  The  8th  of  the  4th  month  (June), 
1684." 

On  the  same  day  Penn  addressed  another  letter  to 
his  "  Noble  and  Old  Friend  "  the  Earl  of  Sunderland, 
who  had  been  his  classmate  at  Oxford  University  to 
incline  his  influence  to  his  cause.     As  it  is  entirely  too 


l6o  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

long  for  our  use  (see  Memoirs  of  Hist.   Society,  vol. 
IV.  pp.  183-6),  select  the  following  extracts  : 

"  The  station  in  which  it  hath  pleased  his  Imperial 
Majesty  to  place  me  in  his  American  Empire,  com- 
mands this  direction  from  me,  and  therefore  excuseth 
the  freedom  of  it,  though  the  liberty  thy  former  kind- 
ness giveth  me  would  not  let  me  despair  of  accept- 
ance, at  least  of  pardon.  My  last  gave  some  ac- 
count of  the  carriage  of  the  Lord  Baltimore,  and  his 
agents  in  reference  to  this  Province  and  annexed  coun- 
ties, conveyed  to  me  by  deed  of  feoffment  from  the 
Duke:  since  which  time,  he  hath  made  great  advances 
with  what  justice  to  me  duty  to  his  Majesty,  and 
safety  to  himself,  I  leave  to  my  superiors  to  judge." 

After  going  at  some  length  over  his  difficulties,  he 
remarks  that  **  This  doctrine  hath  tied  the  hands  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  place  from  absolute  war  on  this 
part.  I  tell  them  that  our  great  Justinian  must  issue 
this  difference,  take  this  fort  and  get  the  victory ;  and 
if  the  Crown  itself  disowns  not  the  power  of  raising 
forces  against  subjects  in  rebellion,  the  Proprietary  of 
Maryland,  is  more  concerned  to  defend  his  fort  against 
the  King,  than  we  are  to  defend  ourselves  against  his 
fort,  which  is  plainly  acting  in  a  way  of  hostility 
against  the  subjects  of  our  sovereign  lord  the  King, 
now  under  his  obedience  and  protection. 

"  My  humble  motion  from  these  premises  is  this, 
that  though  I  am  following  this  lord  as  fast  as  I  can, 
my  circumstances  may  be   so   far  considered,  at   the 


TO    THE    DUKE   OF   YORK.  l6l 

first,  nothing  may  be  done  in  this  affair  till  I  am  on  the 
spot.  He  took  care  to  prolong  my  notices  of  his 
going  for  England  till  gone,  or  just  upon  it,  that  I 
having  all  to  do  in  reference  to  the  settlement  of  this 
country,  he  might  get  the  start,  and  endeavour  to  block 
up  my  way :  but  I  hope  these  acts  will  find  no  matter 
to  work  upon  to  my  disadvantage.  My  case  is  plain 
and  fortified,  by  the  very  opposition  of  my  adversary." 

Every  candid  reader,  we  think,  must  admit  that 
these  letters  of  Penn  are  admirable,  both  in  style  and 
logic,  with  here  and  there  a  vein  of  satire  mixed  with 
caustic.  This  was  one  of  the  greatest  troubles  that 
attended  the  foundation  of  his  colony,  and  to  which  it 
clung  like  a  parasite  to  be  fostered  by  its  growth. 

The  Governor  on  the  25th  appointed  James  Harrison, 
William  Yardley,  Thomas  Janney,John  Otter,  William 
Beeks,  William  Biles  and  Edmund  Bennett,  Justices  ofthe 
Peace  for  the  county  of  Bucks,  as  the  records  ofthe  Court 
inform  us.  This  would  already  denote  a  considerable 
increase  in  population  since  the  organization  of  the 
county.  On  the  27th,  Penn  was  present  at  the  opening 
of  the  Court  at  Chester. 

A  meeting  of  the  Council  was  held  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  25th  of  5th  month,  at  which  the  Governor  pro- 
posed a  law  to  suppress  the  sale  of  rum  to  the  Indians 
in  quantities.  Robert  Terrill  and  all  others  that  are 
engaged  in  selling  rum  as  aforesaid  are  ordered  to  ap- 
pear before  the  Board.       For  his  doings  Terrill  re- 


1 62  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

ceived  a  reprimand  from  the  Governor  on  the  follow- 
ing day,  and  a  proclamation  was  ordered  to  be  issued 
to  suppress  the  same.  The  Council  was  in  session  on 
the  28th,  when  they  adjourned  to  the  14th  of  the  fol- 
lowing month. 

John  White  and  Robert  Hall  of  Bucks  county,  on 
the  26th  petitioned  the  "  Dear  Governor  "  that  "  we 
formerly  did  take  up  15  00  acres  of  land  on  Neshaminy 
creek,  which  our  father  George  White  did  purchase  of 
thee.  After  this  Edward  Lovitt  took  up  land  back 
of  us  and  did  run  upon  our  line,  taking  away  a  piece 
of  meadow  next  the  creek  which  John  Swart  lay  claim 
to.  Now  this  is  to  beseech  thee  to  be  mindful  of  ful- 
filling thy  former  promise,  and  al^  to  inform  thee  that 
most  people  do  look  upon  it  as  an  unreasonable  thing 
for  John  Swart  to  have  a  piece  of  meadow  two  miles 
from  his  habitation,  without  title  and  intercept  us  from 
the  benefit  of  the  creek  for  the  width  of  near  1000 
acres.  So  desiring  thee  to  take  this  into  thy  consid- 
eration we  remain  thy  loving  friends  and  addressers." 
(i.)  What  action  the  Governor  took  on  this  matter  is 
unknown  to  us,  and  present  it  as  an  item  of  local  in- 
terest in  our  early  history  not  heretofore  published. 


PREPARATIONS    FOR    DEPARTURE.  1 63 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PENN'S  PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE. SAFE  ARRIVAL 

IN  ENGLAND. 

[August-October,  /6S4.'] 

We  have  now  arrived  in  this  work  to  the  beginning 
of  August  (6th  month),  1684;  when  Penn  had  left 
his  home,  family  and  most  of  his  friends  one  year  and 
eleven  months,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  making  pre- 
parations for  his  return.  As  stated  on  the  boundary 
question,  Lord  Baltimore  had  taken  the  advantage  of 
him  in  an  earlier  start  to  England  than  he  had  ex- 
pected, and  in  consequence  had  written  to  the  Duke  of 
York  and  others  that  he  intended  speedily  to  follow  to 
be  enabled  to  confront  him  and  attend  to  his  claims 
personally  before  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of 
Trades  and  Plantations.  It  is  probable,  too,  that  he 
may  have  been  also  induced  to  return  by  hearing  of 
his  wife's  illness,  as  we  infer  from  his  correspond- 
ence. 

On  the  4th  he  appointed  Nicholas  More,  William 
Welch,  William  Wood,  Robert  Turner  and  John  Eck- 
ley,  Provincial  Judges  for   two  years  from  this  date ; 


164  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"you  and  every  of  you  behaving  yourselves  well 
therein,  and  acting  according  to  the  same."  Their 
jurisdiction  extended  only  to  "  the  three  Upper 
Countyes  and  Towne  of  Philadelphia."  This,  in  fact, 
was  the  origin  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The  Proprietary  deemed  it  prudent  before  he  em- 
barked on  his  voyage,  to  appoint  three  Commissioners 
to  act  as  guardians  in  the  government  of  the  Province, 
in  the  event  of  his  death  or  any  other  causality.  The 
following  is  copied  from  the  original  on  parchment 
with  the  great  seal  attached,  and  probably  now  pub- 
lished for  the  first  time  : 

"  William  Penn  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  ye 
Province  of  Pennsilvania  &  ye  Territories  thereunto 
belonging.  To  my  Trusty  and  Loveing  Friends  Tho. 
Lloyd,  James  Harrison  &  John  Simcock.  Not 
knowing  how  it  may  please  Almighty  God  to  deal 
with  me  in  this  voyage  &  considering  of  how  great 
moment  it  is  that  the  Administration  of  ye  Govern- 
ment be  carefully  provided  for  in  case  of  my  Decease, 
before  I  return  or  send  any  other  ordr  or  Commissions 
than  what  I  leave  behind  me.  Know  yee  that  out  of 
ye  Singular  regard  I  have  to  ye  Wisdome  Justice  & 
Fidelity,  I  have  nominated  constituted  &  appointed 
&  do  hereby  nominate,  constitute  &  appoint  you 
Commissioners  and  Guardians  in  Government  to  my 
dear  Heir  Springett  Penn,  of  which  the  first  named  to 
preside  according  to  Charter,  &  in  case  of  ye  decease 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE.        1 65 

of  my  Heir  before  he  comes  of  Age,  then  to  ye  next 
successively  till  of  Age.  Strictly  charging  all  persons 
that  they  yield  you  ye  same  Obedience  in  ye  Discharge 
of  your  Trust  as  if  I  myself  were  living  or  ye  Minor 
were  of  Age,  Charging  you  also  before  God,  Angels 
and  Men,  that  directly  or  indirectly  you  Act  nothing 
to  ye  Injury  of  his  Right  or  to  ye  Detriment  of  ye 
People,  but  that  with  wisdome  you  preserve  ye  Union 
of  their  Interests  to  ye  mutual  Joy  &  Benefit  of  ye 
Governr  &  Governmt  to  ye  best  of  your  skill, 
&  in  case  any  of  you  should  decease  or  remove  from 
ye  Province  before  my  Heir  come  of  Age,  that  then 
those  that  survive  or  remain  shall  chuse  one  in  his 
stead  for  ye  service  aforesaid.  Given  at  Philadelphia 
ye  Seventh  day  of  ye  Sixth  Month,  One  Thousand 
Six  Hundred  and  Eighty  Four,  being  ye  Thirty  Sixth 
year  of  ye  King's  Reign  &  ye  Fourth  of  my  Gov- 
ernment,   (i.) 

Wm.  Penn." 

Mention  has  been  made  of  Nicholas  More,  presi- 
dent of  the  Society  of  Free  Traders,  who  arrived  here 
in  9th  month,  1682,  and  who  held  several  important 
offices.  A  warrant  was  granted  him  the  5th  of  nth 
month  of  said  year,  for  9,8 1 5  acres  which  was  located 
and  the  deed  given  by  Penn  on  the  7th  of  6th  month, 
1684,  and  called  by  him  the  Manor  of  Moreland.  By 
the  conditions  of  his  patent,  Nicholas  More,  and  his 
heirs    and    successors,  were  required  to  pay  forever 


1 66  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

unto  the  Proprietary,  and  his  heirs  and  successors,  a 
silver  EngHsh  shilling  for  every  one  hundred  acres 
annually  as  quitrent.  This  payment  was  equivalent  to 
the  interest  of  $375  at  six  per  cent.  About  1685  the 
Chief  Justice  commenced  the  erection  of  buildings, 
on  the  eastern  part  of  his  tract,  near  the  present  village 
of  Somerton,  and  where  he  also  built  a  mansion  house, 
calling  the  place  Green  Spring.  After  his  death  in 
1688,  his  heirs  continued  selling  off  portions  of  the 
estate  to  actual  settlers  and  others,  that  much  the 
greater  portion  was  sold  before  1720.  This  tract  re- 
tained its  name  of  Manor  of  Moreland  for  a  century, 
or  till  the  erection  of  Montgomery  county  in  1784, 
when  it  became  divided  into  two  townships  of  the 
name,  one  of  which  was  left  to  Philadelphia. 

Before  his  departure,  Penn  was  called  upon  to  settle 
an  i-mportant  question  concerning  the  interests  of 
Philadelphia.  This  was  in  relation  to  the  front  lots  on 
the  river  Delaware.  As  has  been  stated,  he  reserved 
the  river  bank  for  the  use  of  the  public,  and  as  con- 
ducing to  the  health  of  the  city.  Those  who  owned 
the  lots  adjoining  on  the  westward,  claimed  also  the 
right  to  build  vaults  or  stores  on  the  aforesaid,  oppo- 
site their  property.  He  decided  that  they  had  no 
more  right  to  build  there  than  those  living  elsewhere 
in  the  city,  and  that  he  designed  the  same  as  a  public 
walk  and  for  the  common  benefit  forever. 

On  the  14th,  Penn  held  a  meeting  of  his  Council  at 
Lewis,  near  Cape  Henlopen,  Sussex  county,  and  where 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE.        1 67 

we  know  by  the  following  document  addressed  to  T. 
Holme,  Surveyor  General,  that  he  remained  there  at 
least  till  the  i6th: 

"  William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Territories  thereunto 
belonging.  At  the  request  of  Ralph  Fretwell  and 
Company,  that  I  would  grant  him  to  take  up  a  Tract 
of  Land  either  in  the  County  of  Chester  or  Philadel- 
phia on  Schuylkill.  These  are  to  require  thee  to  sur- 
vey unto  him,  if  in  the  County  of  Chester  so  much 
Land  there,  not  under  Ten  Miles  and  not  exceeding 
Twelve  Miles  square,  and  if  on  Schuylkill  beginning 
on  the  hither  end  of  the  long  Island  called  Barbadoes 
and  to  run  upward  on  each  side  of  Schuylkill  six 
miles  on  the  Water  side,  not  to  go  less  backward  than 
Seven  Miles,  nor  to  exceed  Twelve  on  each  side  where 
not  already  taken  up  according  to  the  Method  of 
Townships,  and  make  returns  thereof  unto  my  Secre- 
tary's office.     Given  at  Lewis  ye  i6th,  6th  mo.  1684." 

It  is  surprising  that  the  island  of  Barbadoes  at 
Norristown  should  at  this  early  period  already  have 
borne  this  name  which  it  has  ever  since  retained.  It 
indicates  likewise  an  earlier  acquaintance  along  the 
Schuylkill  than  would  have  been  otherwise  supposed, 
and  it  was  very  probably  visited  by  Penn  in  one  of  his 
journeys. 

The  Proprietary  had  made  arrangements  to  take  his 


1 68  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

passage  in  the  ketch  or  brig  Endeavour  of  London, 
George  Thorp,  master ;  who  had  made  a  previous  trip 
to  Philadelphia  in  September  of  last  year.  It  is 
possible  that  he  embarked  on  the  i6th,  or  the  follow- 
ing day  when  he  communicated  from  on  board  for 
those  he  left  behind  an  affectionate  valedictory.  It 
was  addressed  "  For  Thomas  Lloyd,  J.  Claypoole,  J. 
Simcock,  Ch.  Taylor  and  James  Harrison,  to  be  com- 
municated in  meetings  in  Pennsylvania,  &c.,  among 
Friends."  The  whole  may  be  seen  in  Proud  (vol.  I.  p. 
189),  from  which  we  select  the  following  extracts: 

"Dear  Friends,  My  love  and  my  life  is  to  you,  and 
with  you ;  and  no  water  can  quench  it,  nor  distance 
wear  it  out,  or,  bring  it  to  an  end.  I  have  been  with 
you,  cared  over  you,  and  served  you  with  unfeigned 
love ;  and  you  are  beloved  of  me,  and  near  to  me, 
beyond  utterance.  I  bless  you,  in  the  name  and  power 
of  the  Lord ;  and  may  God  bless  you  with  his  right- 
eousness, peace  and  plenty,  all  the  land  over.  And 
thou,  Philadelphia,  the  virgin  settlement  of  this  prov- 
ince, named  before  thou  wert  born,  what  love,  what 
care,  what  service,  and  what  travail  has  there  been,  to 
bring  thee  forth,  and  preserve  thee  from  such  as  would 
abuse  and  defile  thee.  So  dear  friends,  my  love  again 
salutes  you  all,  wishing  that  grace,  mercy  and  peace, 
with  all  temporal  blessings,  may  abound  richly  among 
you ;  so  says,  so  prays,  your  friend  and  lover  in  the 
truth.  William  Penn." 


SAFE   ARRIVAL    IX    ENGLAND.  1 69 

"  From  on  board  the  Ketch  Endeavour,  the  Sixth 
month,  1684." 

Clarkson  says  that  "The  day  on  which  he  sailed 
was  the  twelfth  of  August,"  which  error  I  find  has 
been  copied  by  one  or  two  others. 

The  Council  met  at  New  Castle  on  the  1 8th,  Thomas 
Lloyd,  president,  and  the  following  members  present: 
Wm.  Welch,  James  Harrison,  John  Simcock,  Thomas 
Holme,  and  Edmond  Cantwell.  A  commission  from 
the  Governor  was  read,  authorizing  the  Provincial 
Council  to  act  in  his  place,  and  Thomas  Lloyd  to  be 
president  of  the  same,  who  was  commissioned  to  have 
charge  of  the  great  seal. 

After  a  voyage  of  about  forty-seven  days,  Penn 
landed  at  Wonder  in  Sussex,  within  seven  miles  of  his 
house  at  Worminghurst.  From  a  letter  to  his  steward, 
James  Harrison,  at  Pennsbury,  dated  from  said  place 
the  7th  of  8th  month,  '84,  he  says,  *'  Last  Sixth  day 
being  the  3d  inst,  I  got  safe  to  my  family,  and  found 
them  all  well  to  my  joy  in  the  Lord."  We  extract 
from  the  same  some  additional  information : 

"  Phil.  Lemain*  has,  most  carelessly,  left  behind  the 
York  papers  that  Thomas  Lloyd  brought,  and  should 
have  come  as  the  ground  and  very  strength  of  my 
coming.  He  would  not  have  done  me  a  worse  injury, 
nor  balked  a  greater  service,  if  he  had  the  bribe  of 
;{^iooo  to  do  it.     Wherefore  let  him  be  quickened  to 

•  Philip  Theodore  Lehman  was  his  private  secretary,  died  in  1687. 


I/O  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

send  them  by  the  first  ship  that  comes  out  of  Mary- 
land or  Virginia.  Let  Thomas  Lloyd  step  to  York 
and  get  fresh  affidavits  of  the  three  men  that  can 
swear  the  Dutch  possession  of  river  and  bay,  before 
Baltimore's  patents  in  the  governor's  presence  and 
under  the  great  seal  of  the  province. 

"  By  East  come  wine  and  strong  beer  ;  let  the  beer 
be  sold  for  as  much  profit  as  is  reasonable,  and  some 
of  the  wine.  Some  may  be  kept  for  me,  especially 
sack  and  such  like,  to  be  better  for  age.  There  are 
seeds  for  Ralph,  value  here  four  pounds  and  odd 
money.  By  an  Irish  ship  comes  value  150  pounds 
in  provisions,  butter,  cheese,  beer,  shoes,  &c.  Let 
Ralph  follow  his  garden,  and  get  the  yards  fenced 
in,  and  doors  to  them.  Expect  news  and  further  di- 
rections by  the  next  ship.  I  have  sent  some  walnuts 
for  Ralph  to  set,  and  other  seeds  of  our  own  that  are 
rare  and  good.  Quicken  T.  Lloyd  and  P.  Lemain  as 
aforesaid.     Farewell  in  the  love  of  God." 

Though  written,  as  will  be  noticed,  but  four  days 
after  his  arrival  home,  the  aforesaid  shows  his  extraor- 
dinary activity  in  setting  about  his  business,  not  only 
in  securing  things  for  his  Pennsbury  estate,  but  also  in 
attending  to  and  advancing  his  other  interests.  This 
certainly  shows  that  he  was  a  man  of  persevering  and 
industrious  habits. 

We  learn  from  his  "  Apology  for  Himself,"  published 
in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 


SAFE    ARRIVAL    IN    ENGLAND.  I7I 

vania  (vol.  III.,  part  II.,  p.  235),  that  on  his  arrival 
home  "  after  some  days  of  refreshment,"  he  says,  "  I 
went  to  wait  upon  the  King  and  Duke,  then  both  at 
New  Market,  who  received  me  very  graciously,  as  did 
the  ministers  very  civilly." 

As  soon  as  he  could  secure  the  requisite  leisure  from 
his  public  and  private  duties,  he  did  not  forget  to  write 
to  Margaret,  the  widow  of  his  celebrated  friend  George 
Fox,  residing  at  Swcfrthmoor  Hall,  announcing  his 
safe  return  and  briefly  touching  on  his  American  ex- 
periences. Dixon  in  his  Biography  alludes  to  this  let- 
ter, which  has  been  preserved  in  the  Thirnbeck  col- 
lection of  old  manuscripts  at  Bristol.  We  give  the  fol- 
lowing as  the  most  interesting  extracts  from  the  same : 

'•  London,  29th,  8th  mo.,  1684. 

"  Dear  M.  Fox.  Whom  my  heart  loveth  and  hon- 
oureth  in  the  Lord,  remembering  thee  in  the  ancient 
love  and  path  of  life  which  is  most  glorious  in  mine 
eyes  ;  yea,  excellent  above  all  visible  things.  Dear 
Margaret,  herein  it  is  I  enjoy  the  fellowship  of  thy  spirit 
above  time  and  distance,  floods,  and  many  waters.  It 
is  now  a  few  days  above  three  weeks  since  I  arrived 
well  in  my  native  land.  It  was  within  seven  miles  of 
my  own  house  that  we  landed.  I  found  my  dear  wife 
and  her  children  well,  to  the  overcoming  of  my  heart 
because  of  the  mercies  of  the  Lord  to  us. 

"  I  have  not  missed  a  meal's  meat  or  a  night's  rest 
since  I  went  out  of  the  country,  and  wonderfully  hath 


172  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  Lord  preserved  me  through  many  troubles  in  the 
settlements  I  have  made,  both  as  to  the  government 
and  the  soil.  I  find  many  wrong  stories  let  in  of  me, 
even  by  some  I  love ;  but  blessed  be  the  Lord,  they 
are  the  effects  of  envy.  Our  meetings  are  blessed,  and 
I  think  there  are  eighteen  in  number  in  the  province. 
I  have  seen  the  King  and  the  Duke.  They  and  their 
nobles  were  very  kind  to  me,  and  I  hope  the  Lord  will 
make  way  for  me  in  their  hearts,  in  order  to  serve  His 
suffering  people  as  well  as  my  own  interest." 


ACCOUNT    OF    HIS    PROVINCE.  1 73 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

PENN    WRITES    AND    HAS    PUBLISHED    ANOTHER    AC- 
COUNT  OF    HIS    PROVINCE. 

No  sooner  had  the  Proprietary  got  fairly  settled 
down  and  his  most  urgent  business  dispatched,  than  he 
set  himself  earnestly  to  work  in  his  intervals  of  leisure 
to  make  out  another  and  more  complete  account  of 
his  beloved  province.  In  about  fourteen  months  after 
his  return  he  had  ready  for  the  press,  and  appeared  in 
an  octavo  pamphlet  of  twenty  pages.  Its  title  is  '*  A 
Further  Account  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and 
its  Improvements.  For  the  Satisfaction  of  those  that 
are  adventurers,  and  inclined  to  be  so."  It  is  dated 
from  "  Worminghurst-Place,  I2th  of  the  loth  Month, 
'85,"  and  signed  with  his  name.  The  original  pam- 
phlet must  now  be  rare,  the  writer  having  met  with  but 
one.  It  was  republished  at  London  two  years  after  in 
"  The  Present  State  of  His  Majesty's  lies  and  Terri- 
tories in  America,"  by  Richard  Blome.  It  is  quite  in- 
teresting, and  contains  considerable  statistical  matter 
that  is  not  to  be  found  in  any  previous  publication. 
By  these  works  Penn  certainly  deserves  a  place 
amongst  the  early  writers  on  America,  in  fact,  it  ap- 


174  ^^'-^I-  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

pears  to  have  escaped  his  biographers,  who  at  any  rate 
have  given  but  Httle  attention  to  his  struggles  and 
plans  at  colonization,  and  for  which  the  numerous  de- 
scendants of  his  colonists  owe  him  gratitude.  We 
have  carefully  gone  over  this  work  and  prepared  there- 
from the  following  abstract  in  his  own  language  suffi- 
cient for  this  chapter  : 

"  It  has,  I  know,  been  much  expected  from  me,  that 
I  should  give  s'ome  farther  narrative  of  those  parts  of 
America,  where  I  am  chiefly  interested,  and  have  lately 
been ;  having  continued  there  above  a  year  after  my 
former  relation,  and  receiving  since  my  return,  the 
freshest  and  fullest  advices  of  its  progress  and  improve- 
ment. But  as  the  reason  of  my  coming  back,  was  a 
difference  between  the  Lord  Baltimore  and  myself, 
about  the  lands  of  Delaware,  in  consequence,  reputed 
of  mighty  moment  to  us,  so  I  waived  publishing  any- 
thing that  might  look  in  favour  of  the  country  or  in- 
viting to  it,  whilst  it  lay  under  the  discouragement  and 
disreputation  of  that  Lord's  claims  and  pretences. 

"  But  since  they  are,  after  many  fair  and  full  hear- 
ings, before  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  for  Planta- 
tions justly  and  happily  dismissed,  and  the  things 
agreed  ;  and  that  the  letters  that  daily  press  me  from 
all  parts,  on  the  subject  of  America,  and  are  so  volu- 
minous, that  to  answer  them  severally,  were  a  task  too 
heavy,  and  repeated  to  perform,  I  have  thought  it  most 
easy  to  the  inquirer,  as  well  as  to  myself,  to  make  this 


ACCOUNT    OF    HIS    PROVINXE.  1 75 

account  public,  lest  my  silence,  or  a  more  private  inti- 
mation of  things,  should  disoblige  the  just  inclinations 
of  any  to  America,  and  at  a  time  too,  when  an  extra- 
ordinary Providence  seems  to  favour  its  plantation,  and 
open  a  door  to  Europeans  to  pass  thither.  That  then 
which  is  my  part  to  do  in  this  advertisement  is.  First 
to  relate  our  progress,  especially  since  my  last  of  the 
month  called  August,  '83.  Secondly,  the  capacity  of 
the  place  for  further  improvement,  in  order  to  trade  and 
commerce.  Lastly,  which  way  those  are  adventurers, 
or  incline  to  be  so,  may  employ  their  money  to  a  fair 
and  secure  profit ;  such  as  shall  encourage  poor  and 
rich,  which  cannot  fail  of  advancing  the  country  in 
consequence. 

"  We  have  had  about  ninety  sail  of  ships  with  pas- 
sengers since  the  beginning  of  '82,  and  not  one  vessel, 
designed  to  the  province  through  God's  mercy,  hith- 
erto miscarried.  The  estimate  of  the  people  may  be 
thus  made  ;  eighty  to  each  ship,  which  comes  to  seven 
thousand  two  hundred  persons.  At  least  a  thousand 
there  before,  with  such  as  from  other  places  in  our 
neighbourhood  are  since  come  to  reside  among  us  ;  and 
I  presume  the  births  at  least  equal  to  the  burials.  The 
people  are  a  collection  of  divers  nations  in  Europe  :  as, 
French,  Dutch,  Germans,  Swedes,  Danes,  Finns, 
Scotch-Irish,  and  English  ;  and  of  the  last. equal  to  all 
the  rest. 

"  Philadelphia  our  intended  metropolis,  as  I  formerly 
wrote,  is  two  miles  long,  and  a  mile  broad,  and  at  each 


1/6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

end  it  lies  a  mile  upon  a  navigable  river.  The  situa- 
tion high  and  dry,  yet  replenished  with  running 
streams.  Besides  the  High  street  that  runs  in  the 
middle  from  river  to  river,  and  is  a  hundred  feet  broad, 
it  has  eight  streets  more  that  run  the  same  course,  the 
least  of  which  is  fifty  feet  in  breadth.  And  besides 
Broad  street,  which  crosses  the  town  in  the  middle, 
and  is  also  a  hundred  feet  wide,  there  are  twenty 
streets  more,  that  run  the  same  course,  and  are  also  fifty 
feet  broad.  The  names  of  those  streets  are  mostly  taken 
from  the  things  that  spontaneously  grow  in  the  country. 
•*  I  mentioned  in  my  last  account,  that  from  my 
arrival  in  '82,  to  the  date  thereof,  being  ten  months,  we 
had  got  up  four-score  houses  at  our  town,  and  that 
some  villages  were  settled  about  it.  From  that  time  to 
my  coming  away,  which  was  a  year  within  a  few 
weeks,  the  town  advanced  to  three  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  houses ;  divers  of  them,  large,  well  built,  with 
good  cellars,  three  stories,  and  some  with  balconies. 
There  are  two  markets  every  week  and  two  fairs  every 
year.  In  other  places  markets  also,  as  at  Chester  and 
New  Castle.  Some  vessels  have  been  here  built,  and 
many  boats ;  divers  brickerys  going  on,  and  some 
brick  houses  going  up.  The  improvements  of  the  place 
is  best  measured,  by  the  advance  of  value  upon  every 
man's  lot.  •  I  will  venture  to  say,  that  the  worst  lot  in 
the  town,  without  any  improvements  upon  it,  is  worth 
four  times  more  than  it  was  when  it  was  laid  out,  and 
the  best  forty. 


ACCOUNT   OF    HIS    PROVINCE.  I // 

"  Of  country  settlements  I  had  in  my  view,  society, 
assistance,  easy  commerce,  instruction  of  youth,  govern- 
ment of  people's  manners,  conveniency  of  religious  as- 
sembling, encouragement  of  mechanics,  distinct  and 
beaten  roads,  and  it  has  answered  in  all  these  respects, 
I  think  to  all  universal  content.  I  said  nothing  in  my 
last  of  any  number  of  townships,  but  there  were  at 
least  fifty  settled  before  my  leaving  those  parts,  which 
was  in  the  month  called  August,  1684.  I  mention 
this  to  confute  the  objections  that  lie  against  those 
parts,  as  if  that,  first,  English  grass  would  not  grow ; 
next  not  enough  to  mow  ;  and  lastly  not  firm  enough 
to  feed,  from  the  levity  of  the  mould. 

"  Of  the  produce  of  our  waters.  Allocs,  as  they  call 
them  in  France,  the  Jews  allice,  and  our  ignorants, 
shads,  are  excellent  fish,  and  of  the  bigness  of  our 
largest  carp.  They  are  so  plentiful,  that  Captain 
Smith's  overseer,  at  the  Schuylkill,  drew  six  hundred 
and  odd  at  one  draught,  three  hundred  is  no  wonder, 
one  hundred  familiarly.  They  are  excellent  pickled 
or  smoked  as  well  as  boiled  fresh.  They  are  caught 
by  nets  only.  There  is  so  great  an  increase  in  grain, 
by  the  diligent  application  of  people  to  husbandry,  that 
within  three  years,  some  plantations  have  got  twenty- 
acres  in  corn,  some  forty,  some  fifty. 

"  It  is  fit  now,  that  I  give  some  advertisement  to 
adventurers,  which  way  they  may  lay  out  their  money 
to  best  advantage,  so  as  it  may  yield  them  fair  returns, 
12 


178  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  with  content  to  all  concerned,  which  is  the  last  part 
of  my  present  task ;  and  I  must  needs  say  so  much 
wanting,  that  it  has  perhaps  given  some  occasion  to 
ignorance  and  prejudice  to  run  without  mercy,  measure 
or  distinction  against  America,  of  which  Pennsylvania 
to  be  sure  has  had  its  share. 

"  Many  stories  have  been  prejudicially  propagated, 
as  if  we  were  upon  ill  terms  with  the  natives,  and  some- 
times, like  Job's  kindred,  all  are  cut  off  but  the  mes- 
senger that  brought  the  tidings.  I  think  it  requisite 
to  say  this  much,  that  as  there  never  was  any  such 
messenger,  so  the  dead  people  were  alive,  at  our  last 
advices.  So  far  are  we  from  ill  terms  with  the  natives, 
that  we  have  lived  in  great  friendship,  I  have  made 
seven  purchases,  and  in  pay  and  presents  they  have  re- 
ceived at  least  twelve  hundred  pounds  of  me.  Our 
humanity  has  obliged  them  so  far,  that  they  generally 
leave  their  guns  at  home,  when  they  come  to  our 
settlements ;  they  offer  us  no  affront,  not  so  much  as 
to  one  of  our  dogs.  If  any  of  them  break  our  laws, 
they  submit  to  be  punished  by  them,  and  to  this  they 
have  tied  themselves  by  an  obligation  under  their 
hands.  We  leave  not  the  least  indignity  to  them  un- 
rebuked,  nor  wrong  unsatisfied.  Justice  gains  and 
awes  them.  They  have  some  great  men  amongst 
them,  I  mean  for  wisdom,  truth  and  justice. 

"  The  government  is  according  to  the  words  of  the 
grant  as  near  to  the  English  as  conveniently  may  be. 
In  the  whole,  we  aim  at  duty  to  the  King,  the  preser- 


ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  PROVINCE.  1 79 

vation  of  rights  to  all,  the  suppression  of  vice  and 
encouragement  of  virtue  and  arts;  with  liberty  to  all 
people  to  worship  Almighty  God,  according  to  their 
faith  and  persuasion. 

"  Though  ships  go  hence  at  all  times  of  the  year,  it 
must  be  acknowledged,  that  to  go  so  as  to  arrive  at 
spring  or  fall  is  best.  I  propose  therefore,  that  ships 
go  hence  about  the  middle  of  the  months  called  Feb- 
ruary and  August,  which  allowing  two  months  for 
passage,  reaches  time  enough  to  plant  in  the  spring 
such  things  as  are  carried  hence,  and  in  the  fall  to  get 
a  small  cottage,  and  clear  some  land  against  the  next 
spring.  I  have  made  a  discovery  of  about  one  hun- 
dred miles  west,  and  find  those  back  lands  richer  in 
soil,  wood  and  fountains,  than  that  by  Delaware; 
especially  upon  the  Susquehanna  river. 

"  I  must  confess  I  prefer  the  fall  to  come  hither, 
believing  it  is  more  healthy  to  be  followed  with  winter 
than  summer;  though,  through  the  great  goodness 
and  mercy  of  God,  we  have  had  an  extraordinary 
portion  of  health,  for  so  new  and  numerous  a  colony. 
The  passage  is  not  to  be  set  by  any  man ;  for  ships 
will  be  quicker  or  slower.  Some  have  been  four 
months,  and  some  but  one  and  as  often.  Generally 
between  six  and  nine  weeks.  One  year,  of  four  and 
twenty  sail,  I  think,  there  was  not  three  above  nine, 
and  there  was  olie  or  two  under  six  weeks  in  passage. 

"And  because  some  have  urged  my  coming  back, 
as   an  argument  against  the  place,  and  the  probability 


l8o  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

of  its  improvement;  adding,  that  I  would  for  that 
reason  never  return.  I  think  fit  to  say,  that  next  sum- 
mer God  wiUing,  I  intend  to  go  back,  and  carry  my 
family,  and  the  best  part  of  my  personal  estate  with 
me.  And  this  I  do,  not  only  of  duty,  but  inclination 
and  choice.  God  will  bless  and  prosper  poor 
America. 

"  Now  for  you  that  think  of  going  thither,  I  have  this 
to  say,  by  way  of  caution ;  if  an  hair  of  our  head  falls 
not  to  the  ground,  without  the  providence  of  God, 
remember,  your  removal  is  of  greater  moment. 
Wherefore  have  a  due  reverence  and  regard  to  his 
good  Providence,  as  becomes  a  people  that  profess  a 
belief  in  Providence.  Go  clear  in  yourselves,  and  of 
all  others.  Be  moderate  in  expectation,  count  on 
labor  before  a  crop,  and  cost  before  gain,  for  such  per- 
sons will  best  endure  difficulties,  if  they  come,  and 
bear  the  success,  as  well  as  find  the  comfort  that 
usually  follow  such  considerate  undertakings." 


OPINIONS    OF    PENN's    LABORS.  l8l 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

OPINIONS    RESPECTING   THE    RESULTS   OF    PENN's  LABORS 
IN  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  HIS  COLONY. 

We  propose  in  this  chapter  to  give  the  opinions  of 
various  persons  respecting  the  results  of  the  Proprie- 
tary's labors,  from  near  the  time  of  his  grant  in  1681 
till  his  return  to  the  province  in  October,  1699.  Few 
we  can  say  have  earned  such  encomiums  as  we  here 
present,  bestowed  voluntarily  from  the  time  that  he 
was  still  amongst  men  in  active  life  till  near  this  day. 
Such  tributes  to  the  worthy  tend  to  exalt  human  nature, 
and  show  that  mankind  are  not  altogether  ungrateful, 
or  else  such  actions  would  soon  pass  to  oblivion. 

"Mr.  Penn,"  remarks  Oldmixon  (British  Emp.  in 
America,  1 708),  "  staid  in  Pennsylvania  two  years,  and 
would  not  then  have  removed  to  England,  had  not  the 
persecution  against  the  Dissenters  raged  violently,  that 
he  could  not  think  of  enjoying  peace  in  America,  while 
his  brethren  in  England  were  so  cruelly  dealt  with  in 
Europe.  He  knew  he  had  an  interest  in  the  Court  of 
England,  and  was  willing  to  employ  it  for  the  safety, 
ease   and  welfare  of  his  friends ;    so  Having  made  a 


1 82  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

league  of  amity  with  nineteen  Indian  nations,  between 
them  and  all  the  English  in  America,  having  estab- 
lished good  laws,  and  seen  his  capital  so  well  inhabited, 
that  there  were  then  near  three  hundred  houses  and 
2500  souls  in  it,  besides  twenty  other  townships,  he 
returned  to  England  leaving  the  administration  in  the 
hands  of  the  Council,  whose  President  was  Thomas 
Lloyd,  Esq.  who  by  virtue  of  office  held  the  govern- 
ment several  years,  though  he  had  no  commission 
then  to  be  Deputy  or  Lieutenant  Governor ;  Mr.  Penn 
kept  the  chief  government  always  to  himself,  as  Lord 
Proprietary.  What  service  this  gentleman  did  the 
Quakers,  in  King  James'  reign,  and  how  far  that  prince 
gave  him  his  ear,  is  well  known  to  all  that  are  ac- 
quainted with  the  history  of  those  times,  still  fresh  in 
our  memories." 

Richard  Townsend,  a  fellow  passenger  in  the  Wel- 
come,  in  his  Testimony  written  about  1727,  says,  "As 
our  worthy  Proprietor  treated  the  Indians  with  extraor- 
dinary humanity,  they  became  very  civil  and  loving  to 
us,  and  brought  in  abundance  of  venison.  As  in  other 
countries,  the  Indians  were  exasperated  by  hard  treat- 
ment, which  hath  been  the  foundation  of  much  blood- 
shed, so  the  contrary  treatment  here  hath  produced 
their  love  and  affection."  Oldmixon  in  1708  estimated 
the  Indians  residing  within  the  limits  of  the  province 
at  about  6000,  composed  of  "  ten  nations." 

"  Justice  cannot  be  done  the  character  of  Penn," 
remarks    Armstrong  (Address    before    the    Historical 


OPINIONS    OF    PEXN's    LABORS.  1 83 

Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  8,  1851),  "unless 
we  view  it  in  contrast  with  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 
He  foresaw  the  progress  of  freedom,  and  displayed  no 
less  courage,  than  sagacity.  For  the  doctrines  we  have 
just  quoted,  were  the  terror  of  the  very  king  from 
whom  he  received  his  charter ;  their  practical  enforce- 
ment overturned  the  throne  of  his  father,  and  were  the 
warrant  for  his  trial  and  execution  ;  arid  yet  they  were 
published  and  avowed  by  Penn  ;  and  framed  with  the 
assistance  of  the  lamented 'Sidney,  whose  life  the  gov- 
ernment had  then  determined,  if  possible,  to  take,  and 
who,  two  years  afterwards,  for  asserting  upon  paper,  the 
same  principles  of  republican  liberty,  perished  on  the 
scaffold.  Perhaps  no  branch  of  inquiry  has  been  so 
much  the  subject  of  theory  as  the  science  of  govern- 
ment. But  few  of  those  wUo  have  thought  about  it, 
have  had  the  misfortune  to  suffer,  to  the  full  extent, 
the  infliction  of  the  evils  they  strove  to  remedy,  or 
the  good  fortune  to  realize  their  cherished  specula- 
tions. Penn  had  both.  A  Charles  was  on  the  throne; 
Locke  had  not  written  his  glorious  letters  on  tolera- 
tion ;  the  revolution  had  not  taken  place  ;  the  people, 
benumbed,  as  it  were,  by  the  political  convulsions 
through  which  they  had  just  pas.sed,  slumbered,  so 
that  no  oppression,  however  enormous,  seemed  suffi- 
cient to  arouse  them.  Our  Proprietary  was  therefore 
eminently  fitted  for  the  task  which  Providence  had 
assigned  him.  Mark  how  broadly  he  lays  the  founda- 
tions of  religious  freedom. 


184  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"  The  stay  of  the  Proprietary  at  this  time  was  too 
brief  for  his  own  interests,  and  those  of  his  colonists. 
But  he  remained  long  enough  to  leave  the  impress  of  wise 
legislation.  His  devotion  to  the  principles  of  peace  with 
all  men — his  hatred  of  superstition  and  religious  persecu- 
tion— and  his  humanity  to  the  Indian,  were  in  grateful 
contrast  with  the  conduct  of  other  colonies.  As  to 
his  uniform  treatment  of  the  Indians,  we  regard  the 
fact  that  not  one  of  that  race  was  ever  known  to  shed, 
within  our  borders,  the  blood  of  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  except  in  two  instances,  where  there 
was  reason  to  suppose  they  had  forsaken  their  peace- 
ful principles,  as  a  signal  proof  of  the  soundness  of  his 
policy  towards  them." 

"  Returning  from  xA^merica  in  1684,"  says  James 
Parton,  "  he  arrived  in  time  to  witness  the  accession  to 
the  throne  of  James  II,  his  father's  friend,  and  his 
own.  Then  was  presented  the  strange  spectacle,  upon 
which  Macauley  descants  so  bitterly,  of  the  great 
Quaker  high  in  favor  at  the  court  of  a  Catholic  king. 
It  has  not  been  shown,  however,  that  Penn  used  his 
court  favor  for  any  but  humane  purposes.  At  his  in- 
tercession the  King  released  from  prison  thirteen  hun- 
dred Quakers,  confined  for  conscience  sake;  and  at  the 
same  time  the  King  set  at  liberty  a  still  greater  number 
of  Catholics,  some  of  whom  had  been  in  prison  for  years. 
Crowds  surrounded  the  door  and  followed  the  foot- 
steps of  the  Quaker  favorite,  asking  his  influence  with 
the  King.     He  experienced  the  usual  lot  of  a  favorite, 


OPINIONS   OF    PENN'S    LABORS.  1 85 

in  being  envied  and  traduced.  He  told  his  slanderers 
that  the  King  had  been  his  father's  friend  from  of  old, 
and  that  his  father,  on  his  death-bed,  had  obtained 
from  the  King  a  promise  that  he  would  protect  his  son 
from  the  inconveniences  arising  from  his  religious  per- 
suasion. '  I  say,'  he  wrote,  '  that  when  this  is  all  con- 
sidered, anybody  that  has  the  least  pretense  to  good 
nature,  gratitude,  or  generosity,  must  needs  know  how 
to  interpret  my  access  to  the  King.'  " 

"  Meantime,"  says  Bancroft  (Hist.  U.  S.),  "the  news 
spread  abroad,  that  William  Penn,  the  Quaker,  had 
opened  *  an  asylum  to  the  good  and  oppressed  of  every 
nation  ; '  and  humanity  went  through  Europe,  gather- 
ing the  children  of  misfortune.  From  England  and 
Wales,  from  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  the  Low  Coun- 
tries, emigrants  crowded  to  the  land  of  promise.  On 
the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  it  was  whispered  that  the 
plans  of  Gustavus  Adolphus  and  Oxenstiern  were  con- 
summated ;  new  companies  were  formed  under  better 
auspices  than  those  of  the  Swedes ;  and  from  the 
highlands  above  Worms,  the  humble  people  who  had 
melted  at  the  eloquence  of  Penn,  the  Quaker  emissary, 
renounced  their  German  homes  for  the  protection  of 
the  Quaker  king.  There  is  nothing  in  the  history  of 
the  human  race  like  the  confidence  which  the  simple 
virtues  and  institutions  of  William  Penn  inspired. 
The  progress  of  his  province  was  more  rapid  than  the 
progress  of  New  England.  In  three  years  from  its 
foundation,  Philadelphia  gained  more  than  New  York 


1 86  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

had  done  in  half  a  century.  This  was  the  happiest 
season  in  the  pubhc  Hfe  of  William  Penn.  '  I  must, 
without  vanity,  say  ' — such  was  his  honest  exultation 
— '  I  have  led  the  greatest  colony  into  America  that 
ever  any  man  did  upon  a  private  credit,  and  the  most 
prosperous  beginnings  that  ever  were  in  it,  are  to^be 
found  among  us.' "  The  aforesaid  estimated  the  popu- 
lation of  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware  in  1688  at 
12,000. 

Upon  the  publication  of  his  Frame  of  Government 
and  Proposals,  "  many  respectable  families  (Art.  Penn, 
Amer.  Ency.)  removed  to  the  new  province ;  the  city 
of  Philadelphia  was  laid  out  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware;  and  in  1682,  the  proprietor  visited  his 
newly  acquired  territory,  where  he  remained  about 
two  years,  adjusting  its  concerns,  and  establishing 
a  friendly  intercourse  with  his  colonial  neighbors ; 
during  which  period  no  less  than  fifty  sail  arrived  with 
settlers  from  England,  Ireland,  Wales,  Holland,  and 
Germany.  Soon  after  Penn  returned  to  England, 
King  Charles  died ;  and  the  respect  which  James  II 
bore  to  the  late  Admiral,  who  had  recommended  his 
son  to  his  favor,  procured  him  free  access  at  court. 
He  made  use  of  this  advantage  to  solicit  the  discharge 
of  his  persecuted  brethren,  fifteen  hundred  of  whom 
remained  in  prison  at  the  decease  of  the  late  King." 

01dmixon,who  enjoyed  a  personal  acquaintance,  ex- 
presses the  opinion  that  Penn  "  was  generous  and  free 
of  his   thoughts   and   expressions,  which  were  not  al- 


OPINIONS   OF    PENN's    LABORS.  1 87 

ways  sufficiently  guarded  ;  and  after  the  Revolution,  he 
became  suspected,  on  account  of  his  great  access  to 
the  abdicated  King,  who  was  then  Duke  of  York." 
There  may  be  truth  in  this  and  which  led  to  his  sub- 
sequent arrest,  so  natural  to  great  minds  in  their  ex- 
pressions regarding  right  and  wrong. 

Ellis,  in  speaking  of  his  departure,  remarks  (Life  of 
Penn)  that  "  He  had  witnessed  high  prosperity,  and 
the  promises  of  yet  greater  all  around  him,  beneath 
the  gentle  influences  of  his  government.  He  had, 
for  the  most  part,  industrious,  pure,  and  religious  men 
and  women  for  his  helpers.  When  he  returned  to 
England,  there  were  about  seven  thousand  people  and 
three  hundred  houses  on  his  patent." 

"  Soon  after,"  says  Thomas  Clarkson,  "  he  sailed — to 
the  regret  of  the  whole  colony ;  to  the  regret  of  the 
Dutch,  Swedes  and  Germans,  whom  he  had  admitted 
into  full  citizenship  with  the  rest,  and  who  had  found 
in  him  an  impartial  Governor  and  a  kind  friend  ; — to 
the  regret  of  the  Indians,  who  had  been  overcome  by 
his  love,  care,  and  concern  for  them  ;  and  to  the  regret 
of  his  own  countrymen,  who  had  partaken  more  or  less 
of  that  generosity  which  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent features  of  his  character.  And  here  I  may  ob- 
serve, with  respect  to  his  generosity,  that  the  whole 
colony  had  experienced  it ;  for  it  ought  never  to  be 
forgotten,  that  when  the  first  Assembly  offered  him  an 
impost  on  a  variety  of  goods  both  imported  and  ex- 
ported (which  impost  in  a  course  of  years  would  have 


155  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

become  a  large  revenue  of  itself),  he  nobly  refused  it ; 
thus  showing  that  his  object  in  coming  among  them 
was  not  that  of  his  own  aggrandizement  but  for  the 
promotion  of  a  public  good." 

"  At  the  time  of  his  return,"  remarks  James  Bow- 
den  (Hist.  Friends  in  America,  London,  1854,  vol.  11. 
p.  11),  *' from  Pennsylvania,  in  the  summer  of  1684, 
the  city  could  number  three  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
houses,  *  divers  of  them',  he  says,  'large  and  well  built 
with  cellars ; '  and  at  least  fifty  townships  had  been 
settled.  In  little  more  than  two  years  from  its  settle- 
ment, ninety  ships,  bringing,  according  to  the  estimate 
of  William  Penn,  an  average  of  eighty  passengers  in 
each,  or  in  all  seven  thousand  two  hundred,  had  ar- 
rived in  the  colony,  these  together  with  the  previous 
colonists  and  those  from  the  adjacent  settlements,  gave 
a  population  of  about  nine  thousand  to  the  province. 

"  In  three  years  from  its  foundation  Philadelphia 
had  gained  more  than  New  York  had  done  in  half  a 
century,  and  the  progress  of  the  province  wias  more 
rapid  than  even  New  England.  Already  schools  had 
been  established,  and  the  printing  press  was  at  work, 
sowing  broadcast  the  seeds  of  morality  and  religion. 
In  the  Tenth  month,  1683,  Enoch  Flower,  in  a  dwell- 
ing formed  of  pine  and  cedar  planks,  commenced  the 
work  of  education;  his  terms  being  *to  learn  to  read, 
four  shillings  a  quarter ;  to  write,  six  shillings ;  board- 
ing scholars,  to  wit — diet,  lodging,  washing  and 
schooling,  ten   pounds  the  whole  year.'     One  of  the 


OPINIONS   OF    PENN's    LABORS.  1 89 

earliest  productions  of  the  printing  press  was  an  epistle 
by  John  Burnyeat,  in  1686.  In  New  England  the 
press  was  not  in  operation  until  eighteen  years  after  its 
settlement.  In  New  York  seventy-three  years  elapsed 
before  any  book  or  paper  was  printed,  and  in  North 
Carolina  a  still  longer  period." 

From  an  Address  by  Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  on  the 
Early  History  of  Pennsylvania,  delivered  June  6th, 
1 82 1,  before  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  we 
select  the  following  eloquent  extract: 

•'  But  I  must  leave  it  to  the  future  historian  to 
delineate  the  character  of  a  legislator  who  never  had 
a  model,  and  who,  though  crowned  with  success,  will 
probably  never  have  an  imitator.  He  will  describe 
the  state  of  this  country^  during  the  two  years  of  that 
great  man's  residence  here  after  his  arrival,  he  will  tell  us 
how  a  legislature  was  formed  and  assembled  within 
six  weeks  at  most  after  his  landing,  whose  first  act  was 
to  recognize  as  brethren  all  who  believed  in  one  God, 
the  upholder  and  ruler  of  the  universe ;  how  a  code  of 
laws  was  enacted  in  three  days,  founded  on  the 
genuine  principles  of  religion,  justice  and  morality  ;  he 
will  show  the  territory  which  now  forms  the  state 
of  Delaware,  united  to  this  province  in  legislation  as 
well  as  in  government,  the  friendship  of  the  Indians 
secured,  large  territories  obtained  of  them  by  fair  and 
honourable  purchase,  a  noble  city  founded,  and  its  walls 
rapidly  rising  as  it  were  by  enchantment,  the  country 
increasing  in  population  and  wealth,  and  enjoying  un- 


190  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

disturbed  peace,  prosperity,  and  happiness,  until  his 
absence  showed  how  much  all  these  things  were  due 
to  the  immediate  operation  of  his  powerful  mind."  A 
legislator  who  never  had  a  model,  and  who,  though 
crowned  with  success,  will  probably  never  have  an 
imitator.     A  passage  worthy  of  repetition. 

Robert  Turner,  in  a  letter  to  Penn  dated  Philadelphia, 
3d  of  6th  month,  1685,  says,  "  Now  as  to  the  town  of 
Philadelphia  it  goeth  on  in  planting  and  building  to 
admiration,  both  in  the  front  and  backward,  and  there 
are  about  six  hundred  houses  in  three  years  time. 
The  manufacture  of  linen  by  the  Germans  goes  on 
finely,  and  they  make  fine  linen:  Samuel  Carpenter 
having  been  lately  there,  declares  they  had  gathered 
one  crop  of  flax,  and  had  sowed  for  the  second,  and 
saw  it  come  up  well.  I  thought  fit  to  signify  thus 
much,  knowing  thou  wouldst  be  glad  to  hear  of  the 
people  and  province's  welfare ;  the  Lord  preserve  us 
all,  and  make  way  for  thy  return,  which  is  much  de- 
sired, not  only  by  our  Friends,  but  all  sorts." 

Gabriel  Thomas  who  arrived  in  the  province  a  few 
months  after  the  Proprietary,  and  resided  here  fifteen 
years  when  he  returned  to  London,  where  he  had  pub- 
lished a  small  octavo  pamphlet  of  34  pages,  entitled 
"  An  Historical  and  Geographical  Account  of  the  Pro- 
vince and  Country  of  Pennsylvania;  a/nd  of  West  New 
Jersey."  For  its  size  contains  considerable  information 
relating  to  those  colonies  at  that  time.     He  dedicated 


OPINIONS    OF    PENNS    LABORS.  I9I 

it  "  to  the  most  noble  and  excellent  Governour  Friend 
William  Penn." 

"While  the  colonists  of  Pennsylvania,"  remarks 
Janney,  "  were  busily  and  happily  engaged  in  clearing 
their  grounds,  erecting  their  habitations  and  houses  for 
worship,  establishing  meetings,  and  enjoying  all  the 
blessings  of  civil  and  religious  liberty;  their  sympathies 
were  awakened  by  the  sufferings  of  their  brethren  in 
Great  Britaiii,  who  were  subjected  to  the  severest  per- 
secution. The  laws  against  non-conformists  continued 
to  be  enforced  with  rigour,  persons  who  met  peaceably 
for  the  performance  of  divine  worship  were  persecuted 
as  rioters,  their  meetings  were  broken  up  by  armed 
troops,  and  many  hundreds  of  men  and  women,  sepa- 
rated from  their  families,  were  confined  in  noisome" 
prisons,  where  some  had  remained  for  years,  and  others 
were  released  only  by  death."  A  few  days  after  Penn's 
return,  as  we  learn  from  his  letter  to  Margaret  Fox,  in 
alluding  to  his  visit  to  the  King,  the  Duke  and  princi- 
pal nobles,  says,  "  I  hope  the  Lord  will  make  way  for 
me  in  their  hearts,  in  order  to  serve  His  suffering  people 
as  well  as  my  own  interest." 

We  will  conclude  this  subject,  which  could  be 
greatly  extended,  with  the  following  extracts  taken 
from  a  sketch  of  Penn,  published  in  the  "  Friends' 
Moral  Almanac  "  for  the  year  1872  : 

"  The  code  of  laws  which  Penn  prepared  for  the 
province  was  exalted  in  aim,  comprehensive  in  scope ; 


192  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

yet  with  slender  exceptions,  its  details  were  marvel- 
lously practical,  and  if  he  had  not  the  genius  of  the 
ruler,  he  had,  as  few  have  had,  the  genius  of  the  legis- 
lator. The  work  of  organization  under  Penn's  vigorous 
and  sagacious  guidance  rapidly  proceeded.  A  few 
Swedes  and  Dutch  had  previously  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  colonists  from  most  various  regions  of 
the  Old  World  now  poured  in.  Universal  toleration 
was  proclaimed,  a  charter  of  liberties  was  solemnly 
consecrated  and  a  democratic  government  was  estab- 
lished. In  his  dealings  with  the  Indians  and  their 
chiefs,  Penn  manifested  his  accustomed  magnanimity 
and  justice.  The  capital  city  Philadelphia,  was  planned 
on  a  scale  commensurate  with  Pennsylvania's  expected 
greatness.  Penn's  family  was  in  England.  Hearing 
that  his  wife  was  ill ;  hearing  that  his  friend  Algernon 
Sidney  had  perished  on  the  scaffold ;  hearing  that  the 
fury  of  fanaticism  was  rivalling  with  the  fury  of  vice; 
he,  intrusting  his  unfinished  undertakings  to  such  men 
as  he  deemed  competent,  hurried  anxiously  back." 

"  During  the  reign  of  James  II,  Penn  was  con- 
tinually at  court,  yet  from  no  selfish  or  servile  reasons. 
James  had  been  his  father's  friend,  and  he  had  always 
been  glad  and  prompt  to  help  Penn  himself  He 
therefore  entered  the  palace  that  he  might  give  the 
King  wise  counsels  tending  towards  mercy.  The 
overthrow  of  James  (near  the  close  of  1688)  was  in 
more  than  one  respect  a  misfortune  to  Penn.  In  the 
spring    of  1690   he    was    arrested    on    the  charge   of 


OPINIONS   OF    PENNS    LABORS.  1 93 

holding  treasonable  correspondence  with  the  dethroned 
monarch.  The  absurdity  of  the  charge  being  glaringly 
evident  he  was  set  at  liberty.  Yet  though  his  con- 
duct continued  to  be  blameless,  he  was,  by  an  order 
in  council,  stripped,  third  month,  14th,  1692,  of  his 
title  to  the  Pennsylvania  government,  a  tyrannical  act 
involving  his  utter  ruin  ;  for  besides  that  he  had  risked 
his  whole  substance  in  the  Pennsylvania  experiment, 
his  estates,  both  in  England  and  Ireland,  had  been 
grievously  mismanaged  by  incompetent  or  dishonest 
overseers.  An  order  in  council  capriciously  restored 
to  Penn,  in  1 694,  that  Government  of  which  they  had 
robbed  him." 


13 


94  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE    SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS. SEVERAL    MATTERS 

ABOUT    PENN    AND    PENSBURY. 

In  his  letter  to  Margaret  Fox,  dated  London  29tli 
of  8th  month,  1684 ;  a  few  weeks  after  his  return, 
Penn  states,  "  Our  meetings  are  blessed,  and  I  think 
there  are  eighteen  in  the  province."  After  giving  some 
attention  to  the  matter  we  infer  that  the  exact  number 
at  that  time  was  eighteen,  of  which  five  were  in  the 
present  limits  of  Philadelphia,  three  in  Montgomery 
county,  six  in  Delaware,  one  in  Chester  and  four  in 
Bucks.  These  constituted  eight  Monthly  meetings 
called  Philadelphia,  Chester,  Abington,  Concord, 
Darby,  Radnor,  Falls  and  Neshaminy  or  Middletown. 
These  were  comprised  in  three  Quarterly  meetings, 
called  Philadelphia,  formed  in  1682,  Chester  in  1683, 
and  Bucks  in  1684. 

This  shows  an  extraordinary  increase  in  two  years, 
as  previous  to  the  Proprietary's  arrival  meetings  had 
been  held  only  at  three  places,  namely  at  Upland,  Falls 
and  Shackamaxon  in  private  houses.  This,  of  course, 
had  been  greatly  aided  by  persecution  in  the  parent 
country  and  which  was  still  to  bring  thousands  more. 


THE   SOCIETV    OF    FRIENDS.  1 95 

So  numerous  were  the  Friends  in  Philadelphia  in  1684, 
that  it  has  been  stated  (Hazard's  Register  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, vol.  X.,  p.  92)  that  the  usual  attendance  at  First 
day  meetings  was  about  eight  hundred,  which  is  re- 
remarkable  when  we  consider  the  various  difficulties 
incident  to  the  op>ening  of  a  new  country  in  the 
wilderness. 

Robert  Turner*  in  a  letter  to  Penn  dated  Philadel- 
phia, 3d  of  6th  mo,  1685,  says,  "We  are  now  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  large  plain  brick  house,  for  a  Meet- 
ing house  in  the  Centre,  sixty  feet  long  and  forty  broad, 
and  hope  to  have  it  up  soon,  many  hearts  and  hands 
at  work  will  do  it.  A  large  Meeting  house,  fifty  feet 
long  and  thirty-eight  broad,  also  going  up  on  the  front 
of  the  river  for  an  evening  meeting,  the  work  going  on 
apace."  Penn  gave  a  lot  of  ground  for  a  Meeting 
house  at  Falls,  Bucks  county,  in  1683,  but  we  believe 
none  was  erected  thereon  till  1690,  which  the  records 
tell  us  was  built  of  brick,  twenty-five  by  twenty  feet  in 
size  and  not  finished  till  in  the  spring  of  1692.  The 
Neshaminy  or  Middletown  Meeting  house  was  built 
about  the  same  time.  All  meetings  for  worship  in 
Bucks  county  were  previously  held  in  private  houses. 

William  Rawle,  in  his  Address  delivered  be- 
fore the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 5th,  1825,  pays  this  compliment  to  the 
early  Friends.     "  There  departure  from    their   native 

*  A  merchant  from  Dublin,  one  of  the  proprietors  in  1681  of  East  New  Jersey, 
died  in  1701. 


196  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

lands  was  unrestrained  and  almost  unnoticed.  In 
quietness  they  embarked  and  in  quietness  they  landed. 
Here  they  encountered  no  embittered  foe,  they  met 
no  herds  of  indignant  natives  thronging  to  resist  them, 
for  the  natives  were  already  partially  acquainted  with 
Englishmen,  and  with  this  particular  description  of 
Englishmen.  Several  years  before  the  date  of  William 
Penn's  charter,  the  Society  of  Friends  had  begun  to 
settle  in  New  Jersey.  They  had  fixed  themselves  at 
Salem  and  at  Burlington,  and  the  vessels  which 
brought  out  additions  to  their  numbers  had  occasion- 
ally stopped  at  New  Castle,  and  at  Shackamaxon,  now 
Kensington.  Many  Swedish  settlements  between 
these  points,  including  Chester  and  Tinicum,  had 
already  proved  the  tractable  disposition  of  the  natives, 
and  all  was  harmony  and  peace  between  them." 

"  For  many  years,"  remarks  Peter  McCall  in  his 
Address  (Historical  Society,  1832),  "the  population  of 
the  colony  was  chiefly  composed  of  members  of  the 
same  religious  denomination.  Philadelphia  was  em- 
phatically a  Quaker  city — Pennsylvania  a  Quaker 
province ;  and  when  their  numbers  and  their  import- 
ance receded  before  the  flood  of  immigration,  the 
memory  of  their  services,  and  the  influence  of  their 
virtues,  enabled  them  still  to  sway  the  councils  of  the 
growing  nation.  They  gave  a  tone  to  our  manners, 
they  gave  a  temper  to  our  laws.  The  leading  actors 
on  the  arena  of  public  life,  the  objects  of  popular 
applause  and  proprietary  favour,  the   Logans  and  the 


THE   SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS.  1 97 

Lloyds,  the  Shippens  and  the  Norris's,  were  prominent 
members  of  that  Society. 

"The  Founder  himself  afforded  a  striking  illustra- 
tion of  Verulam's  beautiful  remark,  that  '  virtue  is  like 
precious  odours,  most  fragrant  when  they  are  incensed 
or  crushed.'  Twice  expelled  his  paternal  roof,  and 
twice  confined  in  the  tower  of  London  for  his  inflex- 
ible adherence  to  a  prescribed  sect,  he  maintained, 
through  every  vicissitude  of  fortune,  a  spirit  which  no 
tyranny  could  daunt.  It  would  have  been  no  difficult 
measure  for  the  Quakers  to  have  erected  for  them- 
selves an  ecclesiastical  superiority  in  Pennsylvania, 
long  regarded  as  the  peculiar  asylum  of  their  sect. 
But  such  an  establishment  was  equally  hostile  to  their 
religious  tenets  and  their  political  sentiments.  Uni- 
versal liberty  of  conscience  and  equality  of  worship 
were  made  the  corner-stone  of  their  building,  written 
in  capitals  on  the  final  charter,  and  declared  to  be  an 
indestructible  element  of  the  constitution  of  Pennsyl- 
vania." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  held  in  Philadel- 
phia the  9th  of  I  ith  month,  1685,  Captain  Thomas 
Holme  was  president  and  William  Markham  secre- 
tary ;  we  find  mention  in  the  minutes  of  a  singular  oc- 
currence. The  Secretary  reported  to  the  Council  that 
in  the  chronology  of  the  Almanac  of  Samuel  Atkins, 
printed  by  William  Bradford,  both  of  said  place  men- 
tion was  made  therein  in  these  words,  "  the  beginning 
of  Government  here  by  ye  Lord  Penn."     Council  sent 


198  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

for  the  said  Atkins  and  ordered  him  to  blot  out  the 
words  "  Lord  Penn ; "  and  likewise  for  Bradford  and 
gave  him  strict  charge,  "  not  to  print  any  thing  but 
what  shall  have  Lycense  from  ye  Councill."  This  is 
the  only  instance  known  to  us  of  the  Council  inter- 
fering with  the  press. 

We  find  in  the  *'  Conditions  and  Consessions " 
agreed  upon  in  England  by  Penn  with  "those  who  are 
adventurers  and  purchasers  in  the  said  province  "  July 
iith,  1 68 1,  the  following  in  the  seventeenth  article  : 
"  That  all  shall  mark  their  hogs,  sheep,  and  other  cattle, 
and  what  are  not  marked  within  three  months  after  it 
is  in  their  possession,  be  it  young  or  old,  it  shall  be 
forfeited  to  the  governor,  that  so  people  may  be  com- 
pelled to  avoid  the  occasion  of  much  strife  between 
planters."  A  law  was  passed  in  the  beginning  of 
1683  for  the  "  Punishment  of  those  that  shall  presume 
to  alter  their  Neighbor's  Eare  or  Brand  Mark." 
Phineas  Pemberton  as  clerk  kept  a  record  of  all  these 
marks  for  Bucks  county,  commencing  with  the  year 
1684.  The  original  of  which,  containing  the  names  of 
one  hundred  and  five  persons  with  the  peculiar  marks 
belonging  to  each,  has  lately  been  presented  to  the 
Historical  Society.  The  first  entry  by  the  Clerk  reads 
"The  marks  of  my  cattle,  P.  P.  the  loth,  6  mo.  1684." 
Among  others  we  find  that  of  "  William  Penn  Proprie- 
tary and  Govrnr,  His  Earmarke,  cropped  on  both 
Eares.  His  Brandmarke  on  the  nearor  sholder  ^^ " 
This   record  comes  down  to  1693,  after  which  only  a 


THE   SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS.  1 99 

few  transfers  were  made.  Luke  Brinsley  was  the 
"  Rainger"  whose  duties  were  to  see  the  enforcements 
of  the  laws  relating  thereto.  In  my  researches  I  re- 
member meeting  with  a  commission  from  Penn  to  one 
Roberts  to  be  the  Ranger  of  Philadelphia  county,  but 
had  no  date.     It  certainly  belonged  to  this  period. 

Penn  appointed  James  Harrison  at  Lewis  on  the 
15th  of  6th  month,  1684,  to  be  his  steward  at  Penns- 
bury.  This  was  but  a  day  or  two  before  his  embarka- 
tion. Harrison  having  been  there  on  the  14th  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Council.  The  duties  of  this  office 
embraced  the  oversight  of  "the  servants,  building,  &c., 
and  what  relates  to  the  place,  to  receive  and  pay, — 
take,  and  put  away  every  .servant; — to  receive  all 
strangers,  and  to  place  as  to  lodgings."  His  wife  was 
to  *'  overlook  the  maids  in  the  dairy,  accountable  for 
inferior  matters  to  her."  For  this  service,  being  merely 
"  oversight  "  as  Penn  remarks,  he  offered  to  allow  them 
"  a  couple  of  chambers  and  a  horse,  and  besides  meat, 
drink,  washing  and  lodging,  forty  pounds  the  first 
year,  and  fifty  ever  after;  which  I  conceive,"  he  says, 
"  will  be  a  clear  subsistance.  I  have  truth  and  virtue 
in  my  eye  for  my  family." 

From  a  letter  sent  to  Harrison  by  Penn  in  England, 
dated  7th  of  the  following  8th  month,  he  mentions 
sending  a  variety  of  seeds  for  Ralph,  the  gardener, 
and  directs  him  to  set  the  walnuts,  and  have  the  yards 
fenced  in.  He  forwards  also  to  the  steward,  "  provi- 
sions, butter,  cheese,  beer,  shoes,  &c."       On  the    12th 


200  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

of  1st  month,  1686,  Penn  sends  "Instructions"  to 
William  Markham,  Thomas  Ellis  and  John  Good- 
son,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  desire  and  order  you  to  see 
that  they  are  paid  my  inferior  servants,  that  James 
Harrison  my  loving  Steward  employs  for  that  service, 
that  so  my  family  may  be  maintained,  my  improve- 
ments go  on,  and  what  is  owing  discharged.  The  last 
day  of  this  month  there  will  be  two  years  due,  which 
I  expect  to  a  farthing,  for  that  is  like  to  be  my  supply 
at  last,  and  because  my  new  rents  are  to  be  paid  in 
money  or  silver,  not  in  produce."  He  here  makes 
reference  to  his  quit-rents  which  for  the  entire  county 
of  Bucks  was  payable  at  Pennsbury,  and  in  which  they 
seem  to  have  been  very  backward.  At  this  early  day 
it  was  no  doubt  expected  to  become  a  great  place,  for 
we  find  at  a  meeting  of  the  Court  in  1692,  it  was 
ordered  that  Pennsbury  be  erected  into  a  separate 
township,  but  of  which  we  hear  nothing  afterwards. 

James  Harrison  continued  in  the  office  of  steward 
till  his  death,  which  took  place  the  6th  of  8th  month, 
1687,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  John  Sotcher 
succeeded  him  with  Mary  Lofty  as  housekeeper.  It 
appears  from  Penn's  correspondence  that  gardeners, 
carpenters  and  others  were  nearly  constantly  employed 
here  in  making  improvements  and  repairs,  while 
strange  to  say  but  only  a  few  acres  of  ground  were 
cleared  and  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  which 
will  in  part  account  why  the  Proprietary  was  at  so 
much  expense  in  sending  provisions  here.     J.  Francis 


MATTERS    ABOUT    PENNSBURY.  20I 

Fisher,  in  his  private  life  of  Wm.  Penn,  published  in 
the  Memoirs  of  the  Historical  Society  (vol.  III.  part 
II.),  mentions  that  his  favorite  mode  of  traveling  was 
by  water,  and  that  he  kept  a  barge  furnished  with  a 
sail,  and  manned  by  a  boatswain,  a  cockswain,  and  six 
oarsmen.  That  his  visits  to  and  from  Pennsbury  to 
Shackamaxon,  Philadelphia,  Chester,  New  Castle,  Bur- 
lington, The  Falls  and  other  places  were  generally 
performed  in  this  way,  the  roads  at  this  time  being  few 
and  difficult  to  travel  and  without  bridges. 


202  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PENN   REINSTATED    IN    HIS    GOVERNMENT. RESOLVES   TO 

RETURN. PROPOSES  A  UNION  OF  THE  COLONIES. 

But  a  few  months  after  the  return  of  Penn  to  his 
native  land,  great  changes  were  to  take  place  in  the 
affairs  of  government,  and  to  continue  for  several  years 
to  agitate  the  country  and  eventually  culminate  in  revo- 
lution. King  Charles  II  died  of  an  apoplectic  fit,  Feb- 
ruary 6th,  1685,  and  was  peaceably  succeeded  by  his 
brother  the  Duke  of  York  under  the  title  of  James  II. 
The  late  King,  owing  to  his  affability,  generosity  and 
politeness,  at  one  time  had  become  extremely  popular, 
but  through  a  long  course  of  profligacy,  extravagance 
and  perfidy  he  lost  the  confidence  of  his  subjects. 
James  had  always  been  the  friend  of  Penn  and  to  his 
credit  we  believe  never  relaxed  in  the  confidence  that 
he  retained  for  him.  This  affection  was  not  misplaced 
and  led  to  a  great  amount  of  good,  in  the  discharge  of 
many  hundreds  from  loathsome  prisons,  who  had  been 
languishing  there  for  years  for  not  conforming  to  the 
principles  of  the  established  church. 

On  the  1 6th  of  the  ist  month  (March),  Penn  sent  a 
letter  to  Thomas  Lloyd,  in  which  he  gives  the  follow- 


REINSTATED    IN    HIS    GOVERNMENT.  203 

ing  interesting  account :  "  The  King  is  dead,  and  the 
Duke  succeeds  peaceably.  He  was  well  on  First-day 
night,  being  the  first  of  February  (so-called);  about 
eight  next  morning,  as  he  sat  down  to  shave,  his  head 
twitched  both  ways,  or  sides,  and  he  gave  a  shriek, 
and  fell  as  dead,  and  so  remained  some  hours;  they 
opportunely  blooded  and  cupped  him,  and  plied  his 
head  with  red-hot  frying  pans.  He  returned  (revived), 
and  continued  till  Sixth  day  noon,  but  mostly  in 
great  tortures.  He  seemed  very  penitent,  asking  par- 
don of  all,  even  the  poorest  subject  he  had  wronged ; 
prayed  for  pardon,  and  to  be  delivered  out  of  the 
world — the  Duke  appearing  mighty  humble  and 
sorrowful.  He  was  an  able  man  for  a  divided  and 
troubled  kingdom.  The  present  King  was  proclaimed 
about  three  o'clock  that  day.  A  proclamation  fol- 
lowed, with  the  King's  speech,  to  maintain  the  church 
and  state  as  established,  to  keep  property  and  use 
clemency." 

On  hearing  of  the  distracted  condition  of  affairs  in 
the  government  of  the  Province,  Penn  sent  to  the 
Council  the  following  letter  of  excellent  advice  which 
does  him  great  credit.  Owing  to  its  length  we  have 
reluctantly  omitted  a  portion  : 

"  Esteemed  Friends  and  Counsellors. 

"  I  salute  you  all  with  true  and  unfeigned  love, 
wishing  you  temporal  and  eternal  prosperity,  whether 
I  ever  or  never  should  see  you  more.  The  noise  of 
some  differences  that  have  been  in  the  Province  have 


204  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

reached  these  parts,  with  no  advantage  to  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  country.  If  any  thing  be  amiss  let  it  be 
by  more  hidden  and  gentle  ways  remedied.  An  in- 
fancy of  government  can  hardly  bear  the  shakes  a 
riper  age  may  and  sometimes,  as  a  last  remedy,  must 
endure.  That  is  no  where  commendable,  but  in 
government  dangerous,  next  to  religious  duty,  self 
denial  in  the  administration  of  a  government  is  both 
requisite  and  laudable.  I  recommend  it  to  you  in 
prudence  and  concience.  If  faults  are  committed,  let 
them  be  mended  without  noise  and  animosity ;  the 
pomp  and  clatter  of  complaint  is  oftentimes  a  greater 
grievance  to  the  public  than  that  the  thing  complained 
of 

"Three  things  I  do  in  an  special  manner  recommend 
to  your  care  and  inspection.  First,  without  respect  to 
persons,  in  the  fear  of  God  and  for  the  honor  of  the 
Province,  punish  vice ;  let  it  not  escape  your  righteous 
rod;  't  is  the  enemy  of  your  country  and  that  which 
causes  God  to  leave  a  people  to  divers  afflictions,  and 
brings  them  at  last  under  dismal  providences.  I  was 
apt  myself  to  be  but  too  merciful ;  in  that  follow  not 
my  example.  The  repentance  of  the  person  is  not 
enough  for  the  public  always.  Secondly,  accommodate 
your  differences  quietly  and  quickly ;  take  them  up  in 
the  counties  betimes ;  this  prevents  charge  and  ani- 
mosity and  public  reproach.  And  to  do  this  good 
work,  every  man  is  a  judge  or  arbitrator,  for  it  is  a 
duty  of  good  neighborhood  in  all.     Thirdly  I  beseech 


REINSTATED    IN    HIS    GOVERNMENT.  20$ 

you  to  be  kind  to  strangers,  especially  the  poorer  sort, 
to  all  be  inoffensive  and  helpful.  You  are  watchmen 
to  the  rest;  be  therefore  careful,  and  let  a  public  spirit 
act  you  in  a  public  station — 't  is  true  generation  work, 
for  which  even  our  reward  is  not  from  men,  for  as 
government  is  an  ordinance  of  God,  so  most  assuredly 
the  conciencious  discharge  of  our  duty  therein  shall 
not  be  left  out  of  the  number  of  those  good  deeds 
that  God  will  recomp)ence  at  the  last. 

"  Now  for  myself.  I  bless  God  I  am  well,  and  last 
first  day  at  night  I  obtained  at  the  Cabinet  an  order 
for  a  speedy  hearing  the  Lord  Baltimore  which  yester- 
day by  the  Lords  of  the  Plantations  was  appointed  to 
be  this  Second  night ;  let  right  and  equity  prevail  when 
that  is  finished,  my  face  will  be  turning  towards  you 
and  nothing  sooner  expedite  my  return  the  good 
things  I  have  before  recommended  to  your  care  and 
execution.  I  add  no  more  but  the  hearty  remembrance 
of  my  love  and  affection  to  you  and  yours  and  the 
people  of  your  respective  counties,  wishing  and  pray- 
ing for  you  all  that  God  the  great  author  and  fountain 
of  all  our  mercies  and  blessings  may  be  with  you. 
Amen.  Your  real  friend, 

Wm.  Penn. 

"  Kensington,  19th,  6  mo.,  '85. 

Besides  Lord  Baltimore,  Penn  had  a  determined  op- 
ponent to  his  interests  in  Col.  Thomas  Dungan,  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York.       In  a  letter  to  the  King  dated 


206  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

March  2d,  1686,  he  says,  "  Mr.  Penn  hath  written  that 
I  was  to  be  called  home  and  I  do  not  doubt  but 
would  do  all  he  can  to  effect  it,  having  no  great  kind- 
ness for  me,  because  I  did  not  consent  to  his  having 
Susquehanna  river." 

"  The  pretenses  of  William  Penn,  Esqr.  to  the  Three 
Lower  Counties  on  Delaware  river  and  to  the  Susque- 
hanna river  are  equally,  if  not  more  injurious  to  your 
Majesty  and  particularly  in  this  respect.  Susquehanna 
river  is  situate  in  the  middle  of  the  Seneca's  country, 
which  they  gave  unto  your  Majesty's  crown  and  hath 
belonged  as  an  appendix  to  your  Majesty's  government 
many  years  before  Mr.  Penn  had  his  patent.  Not- 
withstanding thereof  he  endeavors  to  disturb  your  Maj- 
esty in  the  peaceable  and  quiet  possession  of  the 
premises ;  endeavoring  to  tempt  the  Indians  to  sell  it 
again  to  him,  by  that  means  not  only  to  dispossess 
your  Majesty  of  your  ancient  rights  but  also  to  per- 
vert and  draw  away  the  trade  of  the  Indians  to  his 
Province ;  which  will  be  an  irreparable  loss  to  your 
Majesty,  all  the  nations  with  whom  Albany  hath  their 
trade  living  at  the  head  of  Susquehanna  river.  To  the 
revenue  of  ten  per  cent,  the  impost  upon  powder,  lead, 
alum  and  furs,  quite  lost,  and  if  Mr.  Penn  should  at- 
tain his  pretenses  to  the  Susquehanna  river,  it  will  not 
only  destroy  the  best  branch  of  your  Majesty's 
revenue,  but  it  will  likewise  depopulate  your  Province, 
the  inhabitants  of  Albany  having  only  seated  them- 
selves there  and  addicted  their  minds  to   the   Indian 


REINSTATED    IN    HIS   GOVERNMENT.  20/ 

language  and  the  misteries  of  the  said  trade,  with 
purpose  to  manage  it,  that  if  it  should  be  diverted  from 
that  channel,  they  must  follow  it,  having  no  other  way 
or  art  to  get  a  livelihood." 

In  his  report  on  the  state  of  the  Province  of  New 
York  for  1686,  he  gives  us  more  on  the  subject.  "  The 
Three  Lower  Counties,"  he  says,  "  of  Pennsylvania 
have  been  a  dependency  on  this  place,  and  a  great 
many  of  the  inhabitants  persons  that  removed  thither 
from  this  Government,  and  I  do  not  believe  it  was  his 
Majesty's  intention  to  annex  it  to  Pennsylvania  nor  to 
have  it  subject  to  the  same  laws,  it  being  the  King's 
own  land,  the  doing  whereof  by  Mr.  Penn  there  has 
been  of  great  detriment  to  this  place  in  hindering  the 
tobacco  to  come  hither  as  formerly,  for  then  there 
came  two  ships  for  one  that  comes  now ;  beaver 
and  peltry  taking  but  small  stowage  in  ships.  I  am 
now  informed  that  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  have 
had  last  year  from  the  Indians,  upwards  of  two 
hundred  packs  of  beaver  down  the  Schuylkill  and  will 
have  more  this  as  I  have  reason  to  believe,  which  if 
not  prevented,  his  Majesty  must  not  expect  this  Gov- 
ernment can  maintain  itself"  We  can  also  see  here  a 
jealousy  extending  back  now  almost  two  centuries  in 
the  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  for  securing 
the  western  trade. 

Unfortunately  the  large  expenditures  that  Penn  had 
been  at  in  peopling  his  Province,  the  frequent  drafts 
made  upon  him  by  his  .steward  at  Pennsbury,  with  his 


208  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

expenses  incurred  by  traveling  and  living  abroad  and 
at  Worminghurst  and  Kensington  began  now  to  press 
heavily  upon  him,  the  income  derived  from  his  estates 
in  England  and  Ireland  being  inadequate  to  meet  it. 
In  a  letter  to  Thomas  Lloyd  he  states  that  out  of  five 
hundred  pounds  per  annum  quit-rents,  due  him,  he 
could  not  get  one  penny.  His  letters  written  at  this 
time  explain  his  stay  in  England,  when  his  presence 
was  greatly  needed  and  desired  in  the  colony.  In  a 
letter  to  James  Harrison,  dated  at  London,  23d  of  7th 
mo.,  1686,  he  says,  "and  what  with  the  fresh  packets, 
one  after  another  from  your  side,  that  Baltimore  com- 
plies not  with  the  King's  order;  I  cannot  come  this 
fall;  for  to  leave  that  unfinished  I  came  for,  and  so  to 
return  by  his  obstinacy  when  wife  and  family  are  there, 
will  not  be  advisable.  Wherefore  I  think  to  see  an 
end  of  that  before  I  go.  Besides  that,  the  country  think 
not  upon  my  supply,  and  I  resolve  never  to  act  the  Gov- 
ernor and  keep  another  family  and  capacity  upon  my 
private  estate.  If  my  table,  cellar,  and  stable  may  be 
provided  for,  with  a  barge  and  yacht  or  sloop  for  the 
service  of  Governor  or  Government,  I  may  try  to  get 
hence,  for  in  the  sight  of  God,  I  can  say,  I  am  five 
thousand  pounds  and  more  behind  hand,  more  than  I 
ever  received  or  saw  for  land  in  that  Province;  and  to  be 
so  baffled  by  the  merchants  is  discouraging,  and  not  to 
be  put  up.  Now  I  desire  thee  to  draw  no  more  upon 
me  for  one  penny.  If  I  cannot  be  supplied,  I  resolve 
to  turn   over  a  new  leaf     There  is  nothing  my  soul 


RESOLVES   TO    RETURN.  209 

breathes  more  in  this  world,  next  my  dear  family's  life, 
than  that  I  may  see  poor  Pennsylvania  again,  and  my 
wife  is  given  up  to  go,  but  I  cannot  force  my  way 
hence,  and  see  nothing  done  on  that  side  inviting.  The 
King  is  kind  to  me  and  Friends,  and  Meetings  open 
again." 

The  Prince  of  Orange,  landed  at  Torbay,  November 
4th,  1688,  and  in  the  following  February  was  crowned 
William  III  with  his  consort  Mary,  and  the  dethroned 
monarch  James  II,  retired  to  France  to  die  in  exile. 
A  revolution  had  thus  been  effected,  and  after  things 
had  got  quieted  down  we  find  a  renewal  of  Penn's  cor- 
respondence. In  a  letter  to  Thomas  Lloyd,  president 
of  the  Council,  dated  London,  14th  of  4th  mo.,  1691, 
he  says,  "  I  ask  the  people  forgiveness  for  my  long 
stay ;  but  when  I  consider  how  much  it  has  been  my 
great  loss,  and  for  an  ungrateful  generation,  it  is  pun- 
ishment!— It  has  been  ;^20,000  to  my  damage  in  the 
country,  and  above  i^  10,000  here,  and  to  the  Province, 
500  families ;  but  the  wise  God  that  can  do  what  he 
pleases,  as  well  as  see  what  is  in  man's  heart,  is  able  to 
requite  all,  and  I  am  persuaded  all  shall  yet  work  to- 
gether for  good  in  this  very  thing,  if  we  can  overlook 
all  that  stands  in  the  way  of  our  views,  Godward ;  in 
public  matters.  See  that  all  be  done  prudently  and 
humbly,  and  keep  down  irreverence  and  looseness,  and 
cherish  industry  and  sobriety." 

As  his  debts  began  to  press  him  more  and  more, 
14 


2IO  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Penn  tried  several  methods  to  raise  the  necessary 
means  to  relieve  himself  from  his  embarrassments. 
Among  the  rest  was  a  plan  devised  in  the  following 
letter.  It  had  no  direction,  but  the  endorsement  on  it 
intimates  that  it  was  sent  to  Robert  Turner,  and  by  its 
contents  evidently  intended  also  for  Thomas  Holme, 
on  both  of  whom  he  had  placed  considerable  de- 
pendence. 

"London,  4th,  12th  mo.,  1692. 
"  Dear  Friends  " 

"  Considering  how  things  stand  and  may  stand  with 
you ;  and  the  visible  necessity  the  Province  is  under, 
as  well  as  my  own  interest,  and  my  earnest  inclinations, 
that  I  speedily  return,  I  have  a  proposal  to  make,  in 
which  if  you  answer  me,  I  shall  be  able  to  make  my 
way  safe  from  the  Government  easy  to  myself,  just  to 
my  friends  here,  and  this  in  reason  I  ought  to  desire. 
In  consideration  therefore  of  my  great  expenses  in 
King  Charles'  time,  known  in  some  measure  to 
Thomas  Holme  and  my  great  losses  in  this  King's 
time  the  one  being  at  least  ;^7,ooo,  and  the 
other  above  ;^4000  or  ;^450  per  annum  totally 
wasted  in  Ireland  as  Thomas  Holme*  can  inform 
you,  by  which  means  I  cannot  do  what  is  requi- 
site to  bring  me  among  you  without  that  time 
here  which   may  injure  our  joint   interest,  or  help  to 


*  He  was  Surveyor-General  of  the  Province  and  died  in  1695,  aged  upwards  of 
seventy  years.  Served  as  a  midshipman  in  Admiral  Penn's  expedition  to  the  West 
Indies. 


RESOLVES   TO    RETURN.  2  I  I 

shorten  it ;  I  do  propose  that  one  hundred  persons  in 
town,  if  able,  or  town  and  country,  do  lend  me,  free  of 
interest,  each  of  them  £100  for  four  years,  or  each  of 
them  more  or  less,  as  able,  so  that  reach  the  sum  and 
I  will  give  you  my  bond  to  repay  it  to  each  of  you,  in 
four  years  time,  or  if  not  paid  in  that  time,  a  sufificient 
interest  for  the  whole,  or  what  remains  unpaid  at 
four  years  end,  from  that  time  forwards  till  paid. 

"  I  shall  take  it  so  kindly  from  you,  that  if  you  gave 
me  at  another  time  it  should  not  equally  please  me. 
and  it  could  not  be  done  more  seasonably  for  your- 
selves, and  the  whole  Province,  for  depend  upon  it  and 
you  have  it  under  my  hand  God  giving  health  for  it,  I 
will  not  stay  six  months,  no,  not  three  months,  if  I 
can  in  that  time  get  passage  to  remove  to  you,  with 
family  also.  I  hope  to  be  more  worth  to  you,  and  a 
great  deal  more  to  the  Province ;  for  the  hour  my  back 
is  turned  of  England  some  hundreds,  if  not  thousands, 
will  follow  which  will  be  your  as  well  as  my  advantage, 
you  may  be  informed  of  the  reason  of  this  proposal 
more  particularly  by  Robert  Turner  and  Thomas 
Holme  if  there  be  any  need  for  it. 

"  Almighty  God  incline  and  direct  you  for  the  best, 
and  determine  quickly,  for  else,  my  course  will  be  as 
you  may  hear  by  Thomas  Holme  otherwise  in  soli- 
tudes. My  sincere  love  salutes  you  and  my  wishes, 
in  the  will  of  God,  are  for  your  happiness,  whether  I 
see  you  any  more,  which  under  God,  depends  much 
upon   your   compliance  with   my  proposal,  and   those 


212  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

that  close  with  it  shall  ever  be  remembered  by  me  and 
mine.  So  with  my  love  farewell.  Your  assured 
Friend 

Wm.  Penn." 

It  would  appear  that  an  effort  was  made  by  some  of 
his  friends  to  assist  him  on  this  plan,  and  which  is  thus 
sarcastically  alluded  to  by  Col.  Benjamin  Fletcher, 
Governor  of  New  York,  in  a  letter  to  London  a  few 
months  afterwards,  and  which  he  mentions  that  he  had 
received  the  account  from  Philadelphia : 

"  By  another  letter  to  the  Friends  in  Pennsylvania 
Mr.  Penn  writes  to  find  out  a  hundred  persons 
in  the  country  of  Pennsylvania  each  to  lend 
him  one  hundred  pounds  without  use  for  four 
years  and  without  any  other  security  than  his  own 
bond,  and  promises  them  that  within  six  months 
at  farthest  after  the  receipt  of  it  he  will  embark 
for  that  place  with  all  his  family.  Some  meetings 
have  been  about  it,  and  it  is  reported  that  how  much 
soever  they  appear  his  friends  they  stagger  when  he 
comes  near  their  purses ;  those  that  are  able  want 
better  security  and  those  that  are  not  (to  excuse  them- 
selves) saying  they  would  if  they  could." 

Governor  Fletcher  shortly  afterwards  sent  a  letter  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations  wherein  he  reflects 
on  the  action  of  those  in  power  here  and  their  conduct 
towards  the  Proprietary.  "  Your  Lordships,"  he  says 
"  will  perceive  these  people  have  as  little  regard  for  the 


PROPOSES    A    UNION    OF    THE    COLONIES.  21 3 

interest  of  their  proprietor  Mr.  Penn  as  they  have  for 
his  Majesty's  service,  and  are  endeavoring  to  erect  a 
new  model  of  Government  of  their  own  invention  and 
of  their  own  authority.  The  town  of  Philadelphia  in 
fourteen  years  time  has  become  near  equal  to  the  city 
of  New  York  in  trade  and  riches,  the  hardships  that 
this  province  hath  undergone  in  the  defence  of  the 
frontiers  and  the  detaching  of  our  people  hath  drove 
many  of  them  thither  to  enjoy  their  ease,  and 
there  being  no  duty  upon  trade  in  that  colony  it  is  a 
discouragement  to  the  trade  of  this  province  whose  in- 
habitants are  left  wholly  to  bear  the  burthen  of  the 
war,  whilst  they  grow  by  the  hardships  of  our  circum- 
stances and  derive  all  their  protection  from  our  forces." 

To  his  other  afflictions  Penn  was  called  now  to 
mourn  for  the  loss  of  Gulielma  Maria,  his  beloved  con- 
sort. "  My  dear  wife,"  he  writes,  "  departed  this  life 
the  23d  of  the  I2th  month,  1693,  in  the  fiftieth  year 
of  her  age  ;  being  sensible  to  the  very  last.  During 
her  illness  she  uttered  many  living  and  weighty  ex- 
pressions upon  divers  occasions,  both  before  and  near 
her  end.  Some  of  which  I  took  down,  for  mine  and 
her  dear  children's  consolation."  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Sir  William  Springett  of  Darlington  in  Sussex, 
who  was  killed  in  the  civil  wars  at  the  seige  of  Bamber- 
He  was  married  to  her  in  1672,  being  then  in  his  28th 
year.  From  the  Bill  of  Charges  by  Thomas  Fairman, 
deputy  surveyor,  we  learn  that  before  Penn  returned  to 


214  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

England,  he  made  "a  journey  with  the  Proprietor  to 
look  at  some  land  to  be  called  Springettsbury,  above 
the  land  designated  for  Germantown,  afterwards  named 
Springfield."  This  formed  what  is  marked  on  Thomas 
Holme's  Map  of  original  surveys  "  Gulielma  Maria 
Penn's  Manor  of  Springfield,"  containing  4,010  acres. 
We  have  evidence  here  that  the  Proprietary  personally 
examined  this  tract  before  it  was  laid  out  and  bestowed 
on  his  wife.  It  was  a  judicious  selection,  being  a  very 
fertile  tract,  abounding  in  limestone  and  iron,  the  whole 
forming  the  township  of  Springfield  in  the  present 
Montgomery  county,  immediately  north  of  Chestnut 
Hill.  Thomas  Penn  in  1738  still  retained  1,600  acres 
of  it. 

By  the  tyrannical  act  of  an  order  from  the  Royal 
Council,  passed  the  3d  of  4th  month,  1692,  Penn  was 
deprived  of  his  title  to  the  government  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  consequence  he  petitioned  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 
some  time  after  to  be  restored  to  all  his  former  rights 
and  privileges  there.  On  the  ist  and  3d  of  August, 
1694,  he  was  present  at  the  board  in  which  the  Com- 
mittee report  that  "  Mr.  Penn  having  declared  to  their 
Lordships  that  if  her  Majesty  shall  be  graciously 
pleased  to  restore  him  to  his  Proprietary  according  to 
the  said  Grants,  he  intends  with  all  convenient  speed 
to  repair  thither,  and  take  care  of  the  Government  and 
provide  for  the  safety  and  security  thereof  all  that  in 
him  lies.  And  to  that  end  he  will  carefully  transmit 
to  the  Council  and  Assembly  there,  all  such  orders  as 


PROPOSES    A    UNION    OF    THE    COLONIES.  215 

shall  be  given  by  her  Majesty  in  that  behalf,  and  he 
doubts  not  but  that  they  will  at  all  times  dutyfully 
comply  with  and  yield  obedience  thereunto,  and  to  all 
such  orders  and  directions  as  their  Majesties  shall  from 
time  to  time  think  fit  to  send,  for  the  supplying  such 
quota  of  men  or  the  defraying  their  part  of  the  charges 
as  their  Majesties  shall  think  necessary  for  the  safety 
and  preservation  of  their  Majesties  Dominions  in  that 
part  of  America." 

William  and  Mary  accordingly  restored  him  to  all 
his  former  privileges  in  Pennsylvania.  The  act  for  re- 
storing him  was  passed  the  2ist  of  August  following, 
"  And  whereas,"  it  states,  *'  the  said  Proprietor  has 
given  us  good  assurance  that  he  will  take  care  of  the 
Government  of  our  said  Province  and  Territories  and 
provide  for  the  safety  and  security  thereof  all  that  in 
him  lies."  Therefore  the  Queen  revokes  the  com- 
mission of  Col.  Fletcher,  bearing  date  Oct.  21,  1692, 
whereby  he  was  appointed  Governor  and  Captain 
General  of  the  colony.  We  need  not  wonder  at  his 
sarcastic  opponent  making  a  vigorous  defence,  for  he 
had  profited  by  Penn's  misfortune,  and  his  restoration 
now  cost  him  his  position. 

At  a  meeting  of  his  Majesty's  Commissioners  for 
Trade  and  Plantations,  held  at  Whitehall,  December 
iith,  1696,  Penn  was  present,  on  which  occasion  he 
spoke  of  the  quotas  required  from  the  neighboring 
Colonies  for  the  defence  of  New  York.  He  conceived 
the   best   plan    for    regulating  it  would  be  by  stated 


2l6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

deputies  from  each  province,  to  meet  in  one  common 
Assembly.  To  effect  this  he  observed  would  require 
one  Captain  General  or  Viceroy  to  preside.  Upon 
these  heads  the  Board  desired  him  to  draw  up  a  scheme 
more  fully  in  writing,  to  which  he  consented.  This 
remarkable  document,  that  proposed  a  union  of  all  the 
Colonies  and  to  be  represented  in  a  General  Congress 
to  devise  plans  for  their  mutual  welfare,  safety  and 
defence,  deserves  to  be  published  in  full,  written  as  it 
was  eighty  years  before  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. As  may  be  well  supposed  it  was  never  acted 
upon,  the  home  government  dared  not  do  it,  it  was 
policy  to  prevent  it  as  long  as  they  could.  The  same 
course  is  still  pursued  in  the  existing  Colonies.  I  am 
not  aware  of  it  being  published  before  in  any  work 
relating  either  to  Penn  or  his  Province,  neither  am  I 
certain  whether  any  reference  has  heretofore  been  made 
to  it.  It  is  entitled  "  Mr.  Penn's  Plan  for  a  Union  of 
the  Colonies  in  America." 

A  Briefe  and  Plaine  Scheam  how  the  English  Colo- 
nies in  the  North  parts  of  America,  viz  :  Boston,  Con- 
necticut, Road  Island,  New  York,  New  Jerseys,  Pen- 
silvania,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  Carolina  may  be  made 
more  useful  to  the  Crowne,  and  one  another's  peace 
and  safety  with  an  universall  concurrence. 

I  st.  That  the,  severall  Colonies  before  mentioned  do 
meet  once  a  year,  and  oftener  if  need  be,  during  the 
war,  and  at  least  once  in  two  years  in  times  of  peace, 
by  their  stated  and  appointed  Deputies,  to  debate  and 


PROPOSES    A    UNION    OF    THE    COLONIES.  21/ 

resolve  of  such  measures  as  are  most  advisable  for 
their  better  understanding,  and  the  publick  tranquility 
and  safety. 

2.  That  in  order  to  it  two  persons  well  qualified  for 
sence,  sobriety  and  substance  be  appointed  by  each 
Province,  as  their  Representatives  or  Deputies,  which 
in  the  whole  make  the  Congress  to  consist  of  twenty 
persons. 

3.  That  the  King's  Commissioner  for  that  purpose 
specially  appointed  shall  have  the  Chaire  and  preside 
in  the  said  Congresse. 

4.  That  they  shall  meet  as  near  as  conveniently 
may  be  to  the  most  central  1  Colony  for  ease  of  the 
Deputies. 

5.  Since  that  may  in  all  probability,  be  New  York 
both  because  it  is  near  the  Center  of  the  Colonies  and 
for  that  it  is  a  Frontier  and  in  the  King's  nomination, 
the  Govr  of  that  Colony  may  therefore  also  be  the 
King's  High  Commissioner  during  the  Session  after 
the  manner  of  Scotland. 

6.  That  their  business  shall  be  to  hear  and  adjust 
all  matters  of  Complaint  or  difference  between  Prov- 
ince and  Province.  As  ist,  where  persons  quit  their 
own  Province  and  goe  to  another,  that  they  may  avoid 
their  just  debts  tho  they  be  able  to  pay  them;  2d, 
where  offenders  fly  Justice,  or  Justice  cannot  well  be 
had  upon  such  offenders  in  the  Provinces  that  entertain 
them  ;  3dly,  to  prevent  or  cure  injuries  in  point  of 
commerce ;    4th,  to  consider  of  ways  and  means  to 


2l8  '       WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

support  the  union  and  safety  of  the  Provinces,  against 
the  publick  enemies.  In  which  Congresse  the  Quotas 
of  men  and  charges  will  be  much  easier,  and  more 
equally  sett,  then  it  is  possible  for  any  establishment 
made  here  to  do  ;  for  the  Provinces,  knowing  their 
own  condition  and  one  anothers,  can  debate  that 
matter  with  more  freedome  and  satisfaction  and  better 
adjust  and  balance  their  affairs  in  all  respects  for  their 
common  safety. 

7ly,  That  in  times  of  war  the  King's  High  Com- 
missioner shall  be  generall  or  Chief  Commander  of 
the  severall  Quotas  upon  service  against  the  common 
enemy  as  he  shall  be  advised,  for  the  good  and 
benefit  of  the  whole. 

In  1696  Penn  married  his  second  wife,  Hannah,  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Callowhill,  an  eminent  merchant 
of  Bristol,  and  soon  after  buried  his  eldest  son,  the 
virtuous  and  amiable  Springett,  aged  but  twenty  years. 
In  1698,  he  traveled  in  Ireland,  and  resided  the  follow- 
ing year  at  Bristol.  She  survived  him  upwards  of 
eight  years,  her  death  taking  place  the  20th  of  lOth 
month,  1 726.  From  the  time  that  Penn  was  reinstated 
in  his  government  until  his  return  to  the  Province 
was  a  little  over  five  years,  in  which  period  the  colony 
continued  tranquil,  and  nothing  material  transpired  to 
affect  the  general  enjoyment  of  the  people  in  prosperity 
and  happiness. 


DEPARTS    WITH    FAMILY    TO    THE    PROVINCE.      219 


CHAPTER   XX. 

PENN     DEPARTS     WITH    HIS    FAMILY    TO    THE     PROVINCE. 

HIS   ARRIVAL   AND    RECEPTION    AT   CHESTER 

AND    PHILADELPHIA. 

\^July — December,  i6gg^ 

In  his  "  Further  account  of  Pennsylvania,"  dated 
from  Worminghurst  the  I2th  of  lOth  month,  1685, 
and  published  soon  after  for  general  circulation,  Penn 
stated  "  because  some  have  urged  my  coming  back,  as 
an  argument  against  the  place,  and  the  probability  of 
its  improvement ;  adding  that  I  would  for  that  reason 
never  return :  I  think  fit  to  say,  that  next  summer 
God  willing,  I  intend  to  go  back,  and  carry  my  family, 
and  the  best  part  of  my  personal  estate  with  me.  And 
this  I  do,  not  only  of  duty,  but  inclination  and  choice." 
In  his  letters  after  this  he  also  gave  repeated  assurances 
of  his  intentions  to  this  effect.  However,  according  to 
the  Report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  on  his  petition  at 
Whitehall,  dated  the  ist  and  3d  of  August,  1694,  they 
state  that  "  being  attended  by  Mr.  Penn,  who  having 
declared  to  their  Lordships  that  if  her  Majesty  shall 


220  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

be  graciously  pleased  to  restore  him  to  his  Propriety 
according  to  the  said  grants,  he  intends  with  all  con- 
venient speed  to  repair  thither,  and  take  care  of  the 
government  and  provide  for  the  safety  and  security 
thereof  all  that  in  him  lies."  On  this  promise  also 
voluntarily  made,  his  province  was  restored  to  him, 
but  as  may  be  noticed  it  was  not  till  nearly  five  years 
had  elapsed  on  the  latter  before  his  "  duty  "  or  "  choice  " 
inclined  him  to  return. 

We  have  no  positive  assurances  of  an  earlier  inten- 
tion on  the  part  of  Penn  to  revisit  the  colony,  than  in 
his  application  to  several  Friends'  meetings  for  cer- 
tificates addressed  to  other  meetings  on  account  of  ab- 
sence and  removal.  He  is  known  to  have  received 
three,  recorded  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Records  of 
Philadelphia  Monthly  Meeting.  One  from  the  "  Sec- 
ond Day's  Meeting  of  Ministering  Friends  "  in  Lon- 
don ;  which  alludes  to  his  eminent  services  in  the 
gospel  ministry,  his  successful  efforts  in  releasing  the 
oppressed,  and  his  meekness  under  trial  from  malice 
and  envy,  and  that  he  parted  from  them  in  true  unity 
and  as  an  approved  minister  of  Christ.  One  from  the 
"  Men's  Meeting  of  Friends  in  the  city  of  Bristol," 
where  he  had  lately  resided,  and  mentions  their  re- 
luctance to  part  with  him  "  as  a  man,  a  good  Friend 
and  a  true  Christian."  The  third  we  proceed  to  give 
in  full  : 

*'  From  our  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Horseham,  Old 
England,  14th,  5th  month,  1699. 


DEPARTS    WITH    FAMILY    TO    THE    PROVINCE.      221 

"To  the  church  of  Christ  in  Pennsylvania,  and  to  all 
the  faithful  Friends  and  Brethren  unto  whom  this  may 
come.  In  the  covenant  of  life  and  fellowship  of  the 
gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  unity  of 
the  one  eternal  Spirit  of  our  God,  we  dearly  salute 
you,  most  earnestly  desiring  your  prosperity  in  the 
blessed  truth. 

"  Now  dear  Friends  and  Brethren,  whereas  our 
worthy  Friend  and  Elder,  William  Penn,  did  acquaint 
our  Friends*  Monthly  Meeting  with  his  intended  voy- 
age into  his  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  although 
we  are  right  sensible  that  he  needeth  no  recommenda- 
tion from  us,  to  pass  into  his  own  country,  yet  at  his 
request,  and  for  the  good  order  sake  that  God  has  es- 
tablished in  his  church  and  among  his  people,  and  for 
the  sincere  love  we  bear  our  well  esteemed  Friend,  we 
could  do  no  less  than  give  this  small  token  of  our 
unity  and  communion  with  him,  for  a  testimony  for 
him  in  his  service  in  the  church  of  Christ ;  wherein  he 
hath  been  a  worthy  and  blessed  instrument  in  the 
hand  of  the  Lord,  both  in  his  ministry  and  conversa- 
tion ;  and  has  always  sought  the  prosperity  of  the 
blessed  truth,  peace  and  concord,  in  the  church  of 
Christ;  and  hath  walked  among  us  in  all  humility, 
godly  sincerity  and  brotherly  love,  to  our  great  re- 
freshment and  comfort ;  who  hath  with  much  labour 
and  travail  on  all  occasions,  endeavoured  the  defence 
of  truth  against  its  opposers,  and  the  preservation  of 
true  unity  and  good  order  in  the  church  of  Christ. 


222  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

So  in  the  unity  of  the  one  eternal  Spirit,  which  is 
the  bond  of  true  peace,  we  take  our  leave  of  him, 
with  earnest  breathings  and  supplications  to  the  great 
God,  whom  the  wind  and  seas  obey,  that  he  would 
mercifully  be  pleased  to  go  along  with  him,  and  con- 
duct him  by  the  angel  of  his  Divine  Presence  to  his 
desired  port,  and  preserve  him  to  the  end  of  his  days. 
And  that  in  the  end  he  may  receive  an  immortal 
crown  and  be  bound  up  in  the  bundle  of  life  amongst 
them  that  have  turned  many  to  righteousness,  who 
shine  as  the  sun  in  the  firmament  of  God's  eternal 
power,  forever  and  ever.     Amen." 

Signed  in  the  behalf  and  by  the  appointment  of  the 
said  meeting,  by  Richard  Hallare,  Resta  Patdoing,  Dan- 
iel Hayllare,  Thomas  Rowland,  Walter  Constable,  John 
Greenwood,  Hugh  Parson,  John  Shaw,  Isaac  Parson, 
Samuel  Cully,  John  Shaw,  Sen'r,  John  Garton,  Thomas 
Snashwold,  Peter  Johan,  Abraham  Jones,  Benjamin 
Hayllare,  Richard  Gates,  Thomas  Lellington,  Thomas 
Humphreys,  Benjamin  Martin,  John  Shaw,  Jun'r. 

On  the  1 3th  of  6th  month  following  he  preached  a 
farewell  sermon  at  Friends'  Meeting  house  in  West- 
minster, which  was  taken  down  on  the  occasion  and 
shortly  after  printed,  a  copy,  if  we  mistake  not,  being 
in  possession  of  the  Historical  Society.  Just  before 
leaving  he  prepared  a  letter  of  advice  to  his  children, 
chiefly  relating  to  their  civil  and  religious  conduct. 

After  the  necessary  preparations  had  all  been  made, 
Penn  now  determined  to  carry  out  his  long-cherished 


DEPARTS  WITH  FAMILY  TO  THE  PROVINCE.   223 

purpose,  and  accordingly  embarked  with  his  wife  and 
daughter  Letitia,  on  board  the  ship  Canterbury  lying 
at  Cowes  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  from  which  they 
sailed  on  the  3d  of  7th  month  (Sept.,  1699.)  Before 
leaving  he  took  farewell  of  his  Friends,  in  a  vale- 
dictory addressed  to  all  the  people  called  Quakers,  in 
Europe.  He  concludes  by  saying,  "  I  have  from  the 
first  endeavoured  to  serve  you,  and  my  poor  country, 
and  that  at  my  own  charges,  with  an  upright  mind, 
however  misunderstood  and  treated  by  some,  whom  I 
heartily  forgive.  Accept  you  my  services ;  and  ever 
love'  and  remember,  my  dear  friends  and  brethren, 
your  old,  true,  and  affectionate  friend,  brother,  and 
servant  in  Christ  Jesus." 

By  his  first  marriage,  Penn  had  five  children ;  Mary 
and  Hannah  died  in  infancy,  and  Springett,  the  pride 
of  his  father,  in  1696.  William,  whom  he  left  behind, 
was  married  to  Mary  the  daughter  of  Charles  Jones, 
of  Bristol.  Letitia,  who  now  accompanied  him,  must 
have  been  a  full  grown  woman,  for  we  know  that  she 
was  married  three  years  after  to  William  Aubrey. 
This  constituted  at  the  time  the  whole  of  the  Proprie- 
tary's family.  In  his  first  visit  to  the  province  Penn 
was  in  his  thirty-eighth  year,  now  he  was  fifty-five  and 
had  been  fifteen  years  and  over  three  months  absent. 
A  period  long  enough  to  have  made  a  considerable 
change,  particularly  in  a  young  and  flourishing  colony. 
Many  that  had  been  on  the  active  stage  of  life  when 
he    left   were    now    numbered    amongst  their  fathers^ 


224  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

whilst  their  sons  and  daughters  had  grown  up  and 
were  taking  their  places. 

As  Proud  has  stated  in  his  History  (vol.  I,  pp. 
420-1),  that  Penn  had  sailed  from  the  Isle  of  Wight 
on  the  9th  of  7th  month,  in  which  I  find  that  he  has 
since  been  followed  by  others,  it  becomes  us  here  to 
give  our  authority  on  the  subject.  This  is  derived 
from  no  less  than  three  letters  written  by  Penn  him- 
self (4.)  One  to  Governor  Nicholson  of  Virginia, 
dated  Philadelphia,  12th,  10  br.  following,  in  which  he 
says,  "I  came  to  this  town  ye  3d,  that  day  3  months 
that  I  left  ye  Isle  of  Wight,  a  long  and  sometimes 
rude  passage,  but  mercifull  in  all  our  healths  and  in 
finding  ye  mortality  over  before  we  came."  To 
Governor  Blackiston  of  Maryland  on  the  13th,  writes 
that  "  We  set  sail  from  ye  Isle  of  Wight  ye  3d  of  7 
br.,  and  arrived  here  ye  3d  of  10  br.,  which  proved  a 
merciful  delay,  the  late  mortality  considered."  He 
also  confirms  the  aforesaid  in  a  letter  from  Philadel- 
phia the  loth  of  I  mo.,  1700,  to  Secretary  Vernon. 

On  the  28th  of  November  the  ship  Canterbury  had 
already  entered  the  bay,  and  had  passed  New  Castle, 
when  Penn  entered  his  barge  and  the  following  after- 
noon landed  at  the  house  of  Lydia  Wade,  below 
Chester,  where  he  lodged  that  evening.  The  voyage 
had  been  a  very  tedious  one,  taking  three  months  till 
the  ship  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  Among  the  passen- 
gers was  James  Logan,  whom  Penn  had  proposed  to 
accompany  him  to  Pennsylvania  as  his  secretary,  which 


ARRIVAL   AT    CHESTER    AND    PHILADELPHIA.       225 

offer  he  had  accepted.  J.  Francis  Fisher  in  his  Pri- 
vate Life  of  Penn  (Memoirs  of  Hist.  Society,  vol.  Ill, 
p.  89),  relates  that  on  his  arrival  Penn  distributed 
amongst  the  ship's  company  near  six  pounds,  quite  a 
handsome  sum  for  those  days,  in  appreciation  of  their 
services. and  kindness  to  him.  On  this  occasion  he 
also  brought  with  him  the  magnificent  colt  Tamer- 
lane by  the  celebrated  Godolphin  Barb,  to  which  some 
of  the  best  horses  of  England  traced  their  pedigree. 
But  for  travel  he  still  preferred  his  yacht,  a  fine  vessel 
of  six  oars,  with  a  regular  crew  who  received  fair 
wages  while  the  Governor  was  in  the  country.  As 
the  son  of  an  Admiral  he  had  an  hereditary  fondness 
for  water,  perhaps  cherished  the  more  by  the  gold 
medal  that  had  been  transmitted  to  him. 

The  arrival  of  Penn  at  Chester  is  quite  interestingly 
noticed  in  the  Journal  of  Thomas  Story  (Friends' 
Library,  vol.  X,  pp.  13 1-4,  Phila.  1846),  from  which 
we  take  the  following  extracts: 

"On  the  28th  (9th  mo.,  1699)  I  had  a  small  meet- 
ing at  New  Castle  upon  Delaware,  which  would  have 
been  less,  had  it  not  been  for  the  expectation  several 
were  in  of  seeing  William  Penn,  proprietor  and  gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania,  then  in  the  river,  in  his  voyage 
from  England,  in  order  to  exercise  his  government  in 
person,  having  been  absent  many  years :  but  he  did 
not  land  there.  Being  informed  that  the  governor  was 
under  sail,  and  desired  me  to  meet  him  that  evening 
15 


226  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA, 

near  Chester,  I  took  horse  after  supper,  and  went  to 
our  friend  Lydia  Wade's  by  Chester,  and  there  waited 
till  he  came  up  in  his  barge ;  and  as  we  had  parted  in 
England  in  much  tenderness,  my  satisfaction  was  also 
great  to  meet  him  so  well  and  safe  in  his  own  prov- 
ince ;  and  that  night  we  lodged  together,  and  dis- 
coursed on  divers  subjects  especially  on  matters  of 
government. 

"The  next  day,  being  the  ist  of  the  loth  month, 
we  went  over  Chester  creek  in  a  boat,  to  the  town  ; 
and  as  the  governor  landed,  some  young  men, 
officiously,  and  contrary  to  the  express  command  of 
some  of  the  magistrates,  fired  two  small  sea-pieces  of 
cannon,  and  being  ambitious  to  make  three  out  of  two, 
by  firing  one  twice,  one  of  the  young  men  darting  in  a 
cartridge  of  powder  before  the  piece  was  spunged,  had 
his  left  hand  and  arm  shot  in  pieces.  A  surgeon 
being  sent  for  from  on  board  a  ship,  an  amputation 
was  quickly  resolved  upon  by  Dr.  Griffith  Owen,  a 
Friend,  the  surgeon,  and  some  other  skilful  persons 
present;  which  accordingly  was  done  without  delay. 
But  as  the  arm  was  cut  off,  some  spirits  in  a  bason 
happened  to  take  fire,  and  being  spilt  upon  the  sur- 
geon's apron,  set  his  clothes  on  fire,  and  there  being  a 
great  crowd  of  spectators,  some  of  them  were  in  dan- 
ger of  being  scalded,  as  the  surgeon  himself  was  upon 
his  hands  and  face ;  but  running  into  the  street,  the 
fire  was  quenched;  and  so  quick  was  he,  that  the 
patient  lost  not  very  much  blood. 


ARRIVAL    AT    CHESTER    AND    PHILADELPHIA.       22/ 

"  Such  is  the  unreasonableness  of  envy,  and  of 
those  that  are  exercised  therein,  that  some  such  would 
gladly  have  blamed  the  governor,  because  the  matter 
happened  on  that  occasion,  though  he  could  not  be  in 
any  way  accessory  thereto,  the  action  being  without 
his  knowledge,  and  contrary  to  the  command  of  the 
magistrates.  But  as  he  was  above  the  reach  of  his 
enemies,  their  envy  and  calumnies  could  not  hurt 
him." 

The  unfortunate  accident  just  mentioned  must  have 
greatly  marred  the  pleasure  of  the  Governor's  re- 
ception. He  was  so  much  concerned  for  the  sufferer, 
that  he  paid  the  expenses  of  surgical  aid,  and  con- 
tinued to  advance  money  for  his  relief  and  support,  as 
appears  from  the  several  entries  in  the  Proprietary's 
Cash  Book  of  the  several  sums  paid  under  the  head- 
ing "  for  B.  Bevan  of  Chester,  who  lost  his  arm."  The 
last  entry  which  was  nearly  five  months  after  the 
occurrence  showed  the  sad  termination  of  this  affair, 
and  is  *'  April  20th,  for  his  funeral  charges." 

After  visiting  some  of  his  former  acquaintances  and 
exchanging  salutations  with  its  principal  inhabitants, 
the  Governor  went  on  board  the  Canterbury,  and  the 
ship  proceeded  on  her  way  to  Philadelphia  where  he 
arrived  on  the  afternoon  of  Sunday  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber. The  city  had  been  visited  by  that  dreadful 
epidemic  the  yellow  fever,  and  was  just  recovering 
from  the  distress  and  devastation  caused  by  its  ravages, 
which   had   not   long  before  prevailed  to  an  alarming 


228  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

extent.  Respecting  it  a  letter  had  been  sent  from  here 
to  Penn  dated  the  i  ith  of  7th  month,  when  he  had 
proceeded  eight  days  on  his  voyage  which  stated 
"All  business  and  trade  down.  This  is  quite  the 
Barbadoes  distemper,  they  void  and  vomit  blood. 
This  has  been  about  harvest  time,  the  hottest  summer 
I  ever  knew:  several  died  in  the  field  with  the  vio- 
lence of  the  heat." 

The  Governor  in  a  letter  from  Philadelphia  dated 
the  10th  of  1st  mo.  (March),  1700,  to  Secretary  Ver- 
non says,  "  My  passage  was  long,  three  months  but 
merciful,  in  that  the  northwesters  had  purged  this  town 
from  a  distemper  that  raged  two  or  three  months 
therein,  brought  as  believed  from  Barbadoes,  of  which 
2 1 5  died."  To  Col.  Codrington  he  wrote  five  days 
later,  "  We  have  had  a  sickly  place,  but  now  well, 
through  God's  mercy  mine  are  all  so,  and  our  passage 
though  long  and  sometimes  rough,  yet  safe,  not  a  pas- 
senger miscarried." 

James  Logan  in  a  letter  to  William  Penn,  Jr.,  thus 
describes  the  arrival  in  Philadelphia :  "  The  highest 
terms  I  could  use  would  hardly  give  you  an  idea  of 
the  expectation  and  welcome  that  thy  father  received 
from  the  most  of  the  honester  party  here.  Friends 
generally  concluded  that  after  all  their  troubles  and 
disappointments,  this  province  now  scarce  wanted  any- 
thing more  to  render  it  completely  happy.  The  fac- 
tion that  had  long  contended  to  overthrow  the  settled 
constitution  of  the   government  received  an  universal 


ARRIVAL    AT    CHESTER    AND    PHILADELPHIA.       229 

damp,  yet  endeavoured  what  mischief  they  could  by 
speaking  whispers  that  the  Proprietary  could  not  act 
as  governor  without  the  King's  approbation,  and  tak- 
ing an  oath,  as  obliged  by  Act  of  Parliament ;  but  that 
in  a  great  measure  soon  blew  over. 

"  Directly  from  the  wharf  the  governor  went  to  his 
deputy's  (Markham)  paid  him  a  short  formal  visit,  and 
from  thence  with  a  crowd  attending  to  meeting,  it 
being  about  three  o'clock  on  F"irst-day  afternoon,  where 
he  spoke  on  a  double  account  to  the  people,  and  pray- 
ing, concluded  it :  from  thence  to  Edward  Shippen's 
where  we  lodged  for  about  a  month. 

"  David  Lloyd,  attorney-general,  a  man  very  stiff  in 
all  his  undertakings,  of  a  sound  judgment,  and  a  good 
lawyer,  but  extremely  pertinaceous  and  somewhat  re- 
vengeful :  he,  at  that  time,  was  one  of  the  council. 
This  obstinacy  the  governor  could  by  no  means  brook  ; 
he  could  not  but  think  there  was  more  deference  and 
consideration  due  his  character  and  station.  Friends 
love  to  the  governor  was  great  and  sincere  they  had 
long  mourned  for  his  absence,  and  passionately  desired 
his  return.  He,  they  firmly  believed,  would  compose 
all  their  differences,  and  repair  all  that  was  amiss." 

Among  the  determined  opponents  of  Penn  was  Col. 
Robert  Quarry,  Judge  of  the  Admiralty,  a  court  estab- 
lished by  the  British  government,  for  the  adjudication 
of  maritime  cases,  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing 
the  navigation  laws,  which  prohibited  a  direct  trade 
from  the  American  colonies  to  foreign  countries.     John 


230  WM.   PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Moore  was  Advocate  in  this  court,  and  were  rendered 
completely  independent  in  their  positions  from  both 
the  Proprietary  and  the  Legislature.  These  with 
David  Lloyd  were  now  the  chief  leaders  in  every  move- 
ment that  was  set  in  opposition  to  the  Proprietary  in- 
terests. The  latter  came  from  Wales  and  had  been  a 
captain  in  Cromwell's  army,  but  now  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Quarry  and  Moore  had  been  send- 
ing injurious  statements  to  the  Board  of  Trade  in  Lon- 
don charging  the  authorities  here  with  harboring 
pirates,  tolerating  illicit  trade,  not  exacting  oaths  in 
courts,  nor  providing  military  defences.  Penn  how- 
ever had  succeeded  in  baffling  their  designs,  and  was 
desirous  of  promoting  harmony  and  sent  for  Quarry, 
when  they  had  a  talk  over  the  matters  at  variance  in  a 
courteous  manner,  both  acknowledging  to  some  faults 
in  the  administration  of  affairs  during  his  absence. 

**  Last  First-day,"  as  Isaac  Norris  wrote  a  few  days 
after,  "  our  Proprietor  arrived  with  his  wife  and  family, 
all  well.  He  is  hearty  and  hale,  received  with  much 
joy  by  the  major  and  better  part  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  same  day  arrived  Captain  Cooper  with  120  pas- 
sengers, from  Bristol,  all  well.  We  have  had  this  year 
seven  ships  from  England,  some  of  them  300  tons. 
We  never  had  such  a  quantity  of  goods  in  one  year 
since  I  knew  the  country.  Our  place  through  great 
mercy  very  healthy  again,  and  an  extraordinary  mod- 
erate and  open  fall." 

Thomas  Story  in   his  Journal  says  that  on  the  8th 


ARRIVAL    AT    CHESTER    AND    PHILADELPHIA.       23 1 

he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  visited  the  Governor  and 
some  of  his  friends  there.  On  the  1 3th  he  accom- 
panied Penn  to  Chester  to  attend  the  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions,  and  the  next  day  they  held  there  a  meeting 
for  worship,  at  which  a  number  attended.  On  the  1 5th 
they  returned  together  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  re- 
mained till  the  28th. 

The  1 2th  must  have  been  a  tolerable  busy  day  with 
the  Proprietary,  for  among  his  other  labors  he  wrote 
at  least  three  tolerably  lengthy  letters  (4.)  One  was 
addressed  to  Governor  Nicholson  of  Virginia,  in  which 
he  says,  "  I  desire  with  all  sincerity  a  good  understand- 
ing among  ye  Governors  of  ye  Provinces  under  ye 
Crown  of  England  for  their  regulation  at  home  and  ye 
prosperity  of  ye  respective  Provinces,  and  do  assure 
thee  that  it  shall  be  my  endeavour  to  discharge  my 
part  as  becomes  both  my  dut\'  and  interest,  suppress- 
ing illegal  trade  and  the  roving  of  pirates  about  the 
several  colonies  seems  the  immediate  concern.  I  have 
.begun  and  shall  continue  to  make  it  my  care  and  on 
all  occasions  desire  thy  advice  and  assistance  in  ye  dis- 
charge of  that  branch  of  my  duty  to  ye  Crown." 

"  By  your  Collector  I  am  informed,"  he  writes  to 
Major  Donaldson  and  Captain  Hallowell,  "  of  a  late 
trial  in  New  Castle  Court  against  some  persons  since 
deceased  and  others  who  fled  from  Burlington  before 
my  arrival  under  suspicion  of  piracy  that  carries  some 
censure  upon  ye  Justice  of  that  place.  I  desire  you 
would   cause  ye   Clerk  of  your  Court  to  draw  out  of 


232  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

his  minutes  as  fair  an  account  as  he  possibly  can  and 
let  it  with  all  expedition  be  transmitted  to  me  that  I 
may  be  the  more  fully  acquainted  of  all  past  proceed- 
ings about  it" 

To  William  Clark,  of  Lewis,  Sussex  county,  he 
writes,  "  I  am  extremely  glad  to  hear  that  after  the 
danger  your  kindness  exposed  you  to  in  the  sloop  you 
got  all  so  well  ashore.  The  thoughts  of  it  were  a 
great  concern  to  me  till  eased  by  the  news  of  your 
safety.  I  have  not  yet  fully  determined  the  time  of 
the  Council  and  Assembly  to  meet,  but  by  the  first 
opportunity  thou  mayest  expect  to  hear  farther.  Pray 
be  careful  to  suffer  no  unknown  persons  to  wander 
about  without  apprehension  and  information  sent 
hither."  This  letter  it  appears  was  transmitted  by 
Samuel  Rowland,  and  the  mention  of  the  danger  that 
Clark  had  exposed  himself  to  in  the  sloop  no  doubt 
has  reference  to  his  boarding  the  Canterbury  in  a  storm 
when  she  had  got  inside  the  Capes,  to  which  the  Pro- 
prietary was  witness. 

On  the  1 3th  he  wrote  from  Philadelphia,  most  prob- 
ably in  the  morning  before  he  started  for  Chester,  to 
Governor  N.  Blackiston  of  Maryland,  in  which  he 
says,  "  1  hope  my  carriage  will  convince  my  neighbors 
that  we  intend  to  be  dutiful  to  the  Crown,  careful  of 
its  revenues  and  the  good  of  Mother  country,  and  very 
friendly  to  our  neighbor  colonies.  Here  is  one 
Bradenham  a  physician,  who  pretends  to  have  left  him 
twenty    months    since,  and   pleads  rather  merit  than 


ARRIVAL    AT    CHESTER    AND    PHILADELPHIA.       233 

guilt.  I  have  clapt  him  up  close  prisoner,  and  en- 
treat to  know,  if  the  penitent  or  ingenious  pirate  in 
thy  hands  can  touch  him.  I  am  doing  my  utmost  to 
show  my  aversions  to  those  villains  and  their  out- 
rages, and  my  next  may  give  a  more  ample  account." 
This  matter  of  the  pirates  was  of  serious  concern  to 
Penn,  about  which  great  complaints  had  been  made  to 
the  home  government,  that  his  officials  here  either 
were  unable  or  unwilling  to  arrest  or  suppress  them, 
and  that  they  were  harbored  by  the  colonists.  A  let- 
ter had  been  sent  to  the  Proprietary  from  Philadelphia 
the  nth  of  7th  month  last,  which  stated  that  "We 
have  four  men  in  prison,  taken  up  as  pirates,  supposed 
to  be  Kidd's  men.  Shelly  of  York,  has  brought  to 
these  parts  some  scores  of  them ;  and  there  is  sharp 
looking  out  to  take  them.  We  have  various  reports 
of  their  riches,  and  money  hid  between  this  and  the 
Capes.  There  was  landed  about  twenty  men,  as  we 
understand,  at  each  Cape,  and  several  gone  to  York. 
A  sloop  has  been  seen  cruising  off  the  Capes  for  a 
considerable  time,  but  not  meddled  with  any  vessel  as 
yet,  though  she  has  spoke  with  .several."  The  result 
was  that  on  the  23d  of  this  month  (Dec,  1699),  Penn 
came  out  in  a  printed  proclamation  for  the  apprehen- 
sion of  all  pirates,  and  those  in  any  way  concerned  or 
suspected  of  piracy.  A  copy  of  which  has  been  pre- 
served in  the  State  Paper  Office  in  London. 


2  34  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

TROUBLES    RESPECTING     PIRATES. THE    GOVERNOR    HAS 

A    SON    BORN,    ON    WHOM    HE    BESTOWS    THE 
MANOR    OF    PERKASIE. 

\_January  and  February,  i6gg.^ 

A  MEETING  of  the  Council  was  held  by  the  Gover- 
nor in  Philadelphia  on  the  ist  of  iith  month,  1699. 
On  which  occasion  he  proposed  to  them  the  necessity 
of  calling  a  general  Assembly,  to  take  further 
measures  for  preventing  and  suppressing  piracy  and 
illegal  trade.  After  some  debate  he  desired  them  to 
consider  it  and  be  ready  at  the  next  meeting  to  give 
him  the  best  advice  thereon.  They  accordingly  met 
on  the  3d,  4th,  5th,  8th,  24th,  25th,  26th,  27th,  29th, 
and  31st  days  of  said  month,  at  all  of  which  meetings 
the  Proprietary  presided. 

Writs  were  issued  by  the  Governor  on  the  9th  for  the 
election  of  Members  of  Assembly,  amongst  those  was 
one  directed  to  R.  Hallowell,  J.  Donaldson  and  Robert 
French,  of  New  Castle,  to  see  to  the  proper  returns  of 
the  several  members  for  the  Three  Lower  counties. 
On    the    13th   he   sent  a  letter  by  post  to  Governor 


TROUBLES    RESPECTING    PIRATES.  235 

Blackiston,  of  Maryland,  in  relation  to  some  official 
business. 

Thomas  Story  in  his  Journal  mentions,  that  **  On 
the  1 3th  the  Governor  set  forward  for  Burlington,  in 
West  New  Jersey,  and  I  went  with  him,  where  we 
were  favoured  with  a  satisfactory  meeting.  On  the 
15th  we  rested  at  Burlington,  at  our  friend  Samuel 
Jenning's,  and  on  the  i6th,  being  the  marriage  day  of 
two  of  his  daughters,  we  had  a  large  and  good  meet- 
ing, and  on  the  i8th  we  went  down  to  the  ferry,  in 
order  for  Philadelphia;  but  the  river  proving  impass- 
able, by  reason  of  the  ice  and  floods  by  the  mighty  rains 
upon  a  great  snow,  we  returned  to  Burlington,  and  the 
day  after  went  down  again,  and  the  frost  being  set  in 
extremely  hard  the  .second  time,  we  cut  a  way  through 
the  ice,  and  with  muc  h  labour  and  difficulty  got  over, 
and  went  si.xteen  miles  to  Philadelphia." 

In  my  researches  in  the  Records  of  Philadelphia 
Monthly  Meeting  found  a  confirmation  of  one  of 
these  marriages,  which  took  place,  as  stated,  on  the 
1 6th  of  iith  month,  1699.  It  was  that  of  Edward 
Penington,  of  Philadelphia,  to  "  Sarah  Jennins, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ann  Jennins  of  Burling- 
towne.  West  New  Jersey,"  which  took  place  in  the 
Meeting  house  there.  Amongst  the  witnesses  present 
who  signed  the  certificate,  are  found  the  names  of 
William  Penn,  Letitia  Penn,  Thomas  and  Ann  Steven- 
son, Isaac  Merriot,  John  and  Agnes  Holenshed, 
Jo.seph  Growdon  and  .some  eighty-nine  others;  we  may 


236  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

therefore  conclude  with  the  JournaHst  that  they  **  had  a 
large  and  good  meeting."  The  aforesaid  Edward  Pen- 
ington  was  the  Surveyor-General  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
on  his  death,  January  loth,  170 1-2,  Jacob  Taylor 
became  his  successor  in  the  office. 

The  pirates  at  this  time  continued  to  cause  a  great 
deal  of  excitement  throughout  all  the  English-American 
colonies,  but  the  matter  was  greatly  exaggerated,  their 
numbers  were  but  few,  and  their  captures  in  reality  did 
not  amount  to  much.  E.  Randolph  in  a  letter  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade,  dated  New  York,  April  26th,  1698 
(Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  vol.  IV,  pp.  300-1),  thus  exhibits  his 
prejudices  on  the  matter,  being  strongly  opposed  to 
Penn's  government : 

**  With  much  difficulty  I  got  over  Chesapeake  Bay 
and  travelled  to  Pennsylvania,  calling  at  New  Castle 
upon  Delaware  Bay,  't  is  inhabited  with  Scotch  and 
Dutch  chiefly  and  a  few  French  and  one  or  two  Eng- 
lishmen, they  are  under  an  arbitrary  Quaker  Govern- 
ment where  neither  Judges,  Juries  nor  Witnesses  are 
sworn  even  in  trials  of  criminals,  as  about  four  years 
ago,  when  I  was  there  one  Richardson  was  tried,  con- 
demned and  executed  upon  a  supposed  murder,  so 
that  his  Majesty's  subjects  inhabiting  in  these  parts 
and  Pennsylvania  also,  are  in  no  ways  secure  in  their 
estates,  lives  and  liberties,  nor  can  it  be  expected  that 
the  officers  of  his  Majesty's  Customs  can  have  justice 
done,  where  there  are  no  persons  qualified  by  an  oath 
to  try  their  causes  upon  seizures  or  otherwise. 


TROUBLES    RESPECTING    PIRATES.  23/ 

"  I  came  to  Philadelphia,  and  administered  the  oath 
to  Mr.  Markham  the  governor  the  17th  of  March 
past,  but  he  has  not  his  Majesty's  order  in  Council  al- 
lowing him  to  be  Governor  of  that  Province.  Colonel 
Nicholson  hearing  of  some  of  Every's  men  were  in 
Philadelphia  forthwith  sent  the  Lords  Justices  Proclama- 
tion for  apprehending  them  to  Mr.  Markham,  who  instead 
of  securing  supported  and  encouraged  them  ;  two  of  the 
chief  Clinton  and  Lassell  were  carried  to  Carolina  from 
Philadelphia,  by  one  Medlicott  another  of  Every's  men 
and  surgeon  of  his  ship ;  another  of  them  one  Clause 
a  cooper  lives  now  in  Philadelphia ;  I  have  seen  him 
almost  every  day  in  the  streets  and  James  Brown  one 
also  of  that  company  is  married  to  Mr.  Markham's 
daughter." 

In  consequence  of  such  information  we  find  that  the 
Lords  of  Trade  presented  to  the  Lords  Justices  at 
Whitehall,  August  lOth,  1699,  ^  report  in  which  they 
conclude  by  saying,  '*  We  humbly  propose  that  direc- 
tions may  be  given  to  Mr.  Penn  to  take  care  in  that 
matter  (meaning  the  pirates)  upon  his  arrival  there, 
according  to  the  power  conferred  upon  him  by  his 
patent."  This,  it  will  be  observed,  was  about  three 
weeks  before  his  departure  for  America. 

To  Penn  this  must  have  been  a  painful  affair,  both 
from  his  relationship  and  position.  This  can  be  seen 
in  the  following  letter  written  on  the  27th  of  this  (i  ith) 
month : 

"  Cousin  Markham.      When  I  was  with  thee  to-day 


238  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

thou  offered  to  be  bound  for  thy  son-in-law  should  he 
bring  thee  into  it  is  all  the  portion  I  believe  he  has  with 
thy  daughter.  What  thou  hast,  I  may  venture  to  say 
thou  hast  got  by  this  government.  I  think  it  very 
strange  therefore  that  thou  makest  a  difficulty  in  bind- 
ing thy  i^xecutor  with  thyself  for  his  appearance. 
Should  another  be  bound,  no  man  will  take  thy  bond 
for  thy  own  life,  only  for  a  counter  security.  Thou 
knowest  it  is  contrary  to  the  form  of  all  obligations 
and  I  cannot  but  take  it  hard  thou  shouldst  be  un- 
willing to  venture  so  much  for  thy  own  credit  as  well 
as  that  of  the  government  and  for  the  husband  of  thy 
only  child  from  those  I  am  not  concerned  with.  I  ex- 
pect a  more  express  answer  than  thou  hast  yet  given 
and  remain  thy  affectionate  kinsman. 

W.  P." 

James  Brown,  here  mentioned  as  the  son-in-law  of 
William  Markham,  was  elected  a  Member  of  the  As- 
sembly from  Kent  county,  which  body  met  in  Phila- 
delphia the  3d  of  loth  mo.,  1699,  but  he  did  not  attend. 
His  father-in-law  went  security  for  his  appearance  in 
the  sum  of  i^300,  and  was  brought  before  the  Assem- 
bly the  2d  of  1 2th  month  following  and,  I  believe,  he 
was  expelled.  As  there  was  no  direct  proof,  and  being 
only  suspected  of  the  charge,  was  some  time  afterwards 
released.  His  wife,  as  stated,  was  the  only  child.  As 
respects  Markham  he  had  been  commissioned  by  Penn 
deputy    Governor  of  the   Province    the    24th   of  9th 


TROUBLES    RESPECTING    PIRATES.  239 

month,  1694,  and  continued  in  the  office  till  the  Pro- 
proprietary's  return  on  the  3d  of  loth  month,  1699. 

On  the  30th  the  Governor  sent  a  letter  to  John  Par- 
miter,  whom  he  calls  his  "  Cosin."  We  must  confess 
at  present  that  we  are  not  able  to  furnish  any  other 
particulars  concerning  him.  It  would  appear  as  if  he 
had  been  on  a  visit  here  about  the  time  of  his  arrival, 
and  that  he  was  now  residing  at  New  York.  We 
select  ^nly  a  few  of  the  most  interesting  extracts  : 

"  Cosin  Parmiter,  I  am  glad  the  rigour  of  the  season 
had  no  greater  influence  on  thy  journey  home.  But 
my  engagements  at  that  time  in  public  affairs  and  set- 
tling my  family  will  plead  the  excuse,  which  I  hope 
thy  next  visit  shall  not  need.  I  am  obliged  for  thy 
quick  care  about  the  wine  ;  I  doubt  not  but  thine  and 
Dr.  Rodman's  skill,  with  Col.  Depeister's  good  humour, 
will  supply  me  with  what  is  good ;  and  if  so,  another 
hogshead  would  not  be  unwelcome.  This  place  is  so 
very  dry  of  wine  at  present  that  a  small  sloop  load  from 
thence  would  I  believe,  meet  with  a  very  ready  market 
and  encouraging  price." 

Besides  the  above  we  find  two  more  letters  written 
on  this  day.  One  to  Lieut.  Governor  John  Nanfan  of 
New  York,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  am  sorry  the  rigour 
of  the  season  has  had  such  influence  upon  the  Earl  of 
Bellomont,  the  climate  though  healthy  is  too  churlish 
to  the  gout,  but  for  that  reason  the  spring  will  be  his, 
towards  an  easier  condition.  I  beg  my  most  respect- 
ful   salutes    to    him    and    his    worthy    Lady.       He 


240  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

honoured  me  with  a  letter  the  other  day,  which,  if  not 
by  this  I  intend  to  acknowledge  by  next  post." 

Though  hinted  at,  he  did  send  however  by  the 
same  "post "  a  letter  to  Lord  Bellomont  from  Philadel- 
phia, in  which  he  communicates  the  news  of  the 
birth  of  a  son.  "  I  heartily  condole,"  he  says,  "  thy 
hard  treatment  from  the  gout,  a  distemper  easily  pro- 
voked by  this  churlish  climate,  or  season  of  the  year, 
but  I  hope  the  approach  of  Spring  will  moderate  its 
rigour,  and  engage  thee  to  look  toward  these  parts.  I 
thank  Almighty  God  we  are  all  well,  my  wife  is  safely 
laid  of  a  boy  and  both  well  for  their  time.  She  was 
brought  to  bed  the  28th  instant." 

The  son  alluded  to  was  John  Penn,  distinguished  as 
"the  American,"  who  was  born  in  what  was  called  the 
Slate  Roof  House,  situated  at  the  corner  of  Second 
street  and  Norris  alley,  now  changed  to  Gothic  street. 
It  was  built  by  Samuel  Carpenter  and  was  then  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  built  dwellings  in  the  town. 
According  to  James  Logan's  letter,  the  Proprietary 
must  have  removed  with  his  family  from  Edward 
Shippen's  mansion  into  it  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  month.  It  was  rented  by  Penn  for  two  years, 
but  continued  to  be  afterwards  used  by  his  Secretary 
Logan  as  an  office  for  the  transaction  of  Proprietary 
affairs  and  public  business.  It  was  purchased  in  1703 
by  Wm.  Trent  for  ^^850,  and  subsequently  owned  by 
Isaac  Norris. 

We  have  now  arrived  at  February,  the  last  month  of 


TROUBLES    RESPECTING    PIRATES.  24 1 

the  year  1699,  and  find  from  the  minutes  that  meet- 
ings of  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
1st,  2d,  3d,  5th,  6th,  7th,  8th,  9th,  loth,  14th,  15th 
and  1 6th,  at  all  of  which  the  Governor  was  present. 
On  the  loth  he  stated  to  the  Council  and  Assembly 
that  he  intended  to  call  the  next  Assembly  according 
to  Charter  at  the  usual  and  annual  time.  To  which 
the  Members  of  Assembly  through  their  Speaker  de- 
clared was  to  their  satisfaction.  The  Governor  then 
asked  them  whether  they  had  any  other  business  that 
needed  his  attention  at  this  time,  to  which  they  gave  a 
negative  answer.  He  then  said,  "  Gentlemen  you  are 
disolved,  and  I  hereby  dissolve  you."  Whereupon 
they  thanked  him  and  departed  and  so  ended  the 
session. 

"  Soon  after  his  arrival,"  says  Proud  in  his  History 
(vol.  I,  p.  423),  "  he  met  the  Assembly;  but  it  being 
then  a  very  rigorous  season,  in  the  winter,  much  public 
business  does  not  appear  to  have  been  transacted,  at 
that  time,  besides  attempting  to  discourage  piracy  and 
illicit  trade ;  for  which  principally,  the  Proprietary 
seems  to  have  convened  them.  He  strongly  repre- 
sented the  odium,  to  which  he  was  under,  to  his 
superiors,  to  correct  the  same.  Hence,  two  laws  were 
passed,  for  these  purposes,  and  measures  taken  to  clear 
the  government  from  all  unjust  imputations  of  this 
nature." 

On  the  2d,  two  letters  were  written  by  Penn,  one 
16 


242  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

was  addressed  to  Sir  Thomas  Beeston  of  Jamaica  and 
the  other  to  the  Governor  ofBarbadoes.  In  the  latter 
he  says,  "  I  landed  the  3d  of  December,  our  place  is 
healthy  now,  and  our  General  Assembly  sitting  upon 
only  two  laws,  one  against  piracy  and  the  other  against 
illicit  trade."  It  may  be  inferred  from  this  that  there 
was  no  occasion  at  present  for  any  other  legislation. 

A  warrant  was  issued  on  the  1 7th  to  Thomas  Fair- 
man  the  deputy  surveyor  to  proceed  and  lay  out  10,000 
acres  of  land  to  be  called  the  "  Manor  of  Perkesey," 
for  the  use  of  his  infant  son  now  but  three  weeks  old. 
He  also  directed  him  to  lay  out  40,000  acres  additional 
for  the  use  of  his  other  children.  His  charge  for  the 
first  survey  was  ^^37. 10  and  for  the  other  ^^130.  The 
manor  of  Perkasie  was  situated  in  Rockhill  township, 
Bucks  county.  Thomas  Penn  in  1759  donated  2,500 
acres  of  this  tract,  **  being  one-fourth  part "  to  the  use 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  who  still  hold  the 
same.  According  to  Oldmixon  the  name  is  derived 
from  Perkiomen,  a  branch  of  which  stream  flows 
through  the  manor. 

The  Governor  summons  Robert  Asheton,  "  high 
sheriff  of  Philadelphia,"  on  the  19th  of  12th  month, 
1699,  to  hold  an  election  on  the  i  ith  of  the  following 
month  (March)  for  three  persons  to  serve  in  the  Pro- 
vincial Council  and  to  the  General  Assembly  for  said 
county.  As  respects  this  sheriff  we  have  an  interest 
from  the  fact  that  Penn  executed  a  deed,  the  30th  of 
May,  1687,  in   which   he  says,  "I  did  give   unto  my 


THE  GOVERNOR  HAS  A  SON  BORN.       243 

cousins  Robert,  Francis,  Mary,  Rachel  and  John  Ashe- 
ton,  the  latter  having  since  died,  of  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster, England,  30CK)  acres  of  land,"  whereof  Robert 
Asheton's  share  containing  314  acres  was  laid  out  to 
him  in  Whitemarsh  township,  Philadelphia  county,  the 
20th  of  4th  month  1 702  ;  for  which  he  is  to  pay  "  one 
silver  shilling  for  every  one  hundred  acres  on  the  first 
day  of  the  first  month  of  every  year."  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  Penn  under  the  charter  granted  to  the  city, 
October  25th,  1 701,  Clerk  of  the  Courts  and  Prothono- 
tary.  In  1708  he  was  appointed  in  addition  Recorder 
of  the  City,  which  several  offices  he  held  till  his  death 
in  August,  1 727.  As  mentioned  in  Penn's  letter  (Chap- 
ter XXV)  he  was  an  Episcopalian  and  was  buried 
with  considerable  display  by  torchlight  at  Christ 
Church.  According  to  one  of  his  statements  he  must 
have  arrived  here  in  1699,  very  probably  with  the 
Proprietary.  When  the  latter  made  his  will  at  New 
Castle  the  30th  of  8th  month,  1701,  we  find  him 
present  as  one  of  the  witnesses.  I  have  since  ascer- 
tained from  the  Records  of  Christ  Church  that  his 
parents  were  Ralph  and  Susanna  Asheton. 

"  On  the  19th,"  says  Thomas  Story  in  his  Journal, 
"  I  went  to  Burlington  where  I  met  William  Penn,  to 
our  mutual  satisfaction.  That  evening  (the  26th)  I  re- 
turned to  Burlington,  where  was  a  youths'  meeting 
next  day,  which  was  large  and  comfortable ;  and  Wil- 
liam Penn  being  likewise  there,  we  tarried  till  the  29th, 
and  then  went  to  a  quarterly  meeting  at   Neshaminy, 


244  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

in  Pennsylvania,  which,  though  not  large,  was  well ; 
and  that  evening  we  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  I 
remained  till  the  5th  of  the  first  month,"  1700.  An 
examination  of  the  minutes  of  the  Bucks  County 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  that  date  confirms  the  fact  of 
such  a  meeting  having  been  held  and  of  which  Phineas 
Pemberton  was  clerk ;  but  no  mention  whatever  is 
made  of  the  presence  of  either  of  those  distinguished 
visitors,  though  it  appears  considerable  business  was 
transacted. 

Penn  deemed  it  his  duty  to  write  a  long  letter  on 
the  28th  to  the  Commissioners  of  Customs  respect- 
ing the  pirates,  and  to  justify  the  proceedings  of  his 
government  in  the  course- pursued  against  them,  and 
what  he  further  expected  from  the  late  enactments 
of  the  legislature. 

Some  time  this  year  a  mill  was  built  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  northwest  of  Chester  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  creek,  beside  the  ford  and  road  leading  to 
Philadelphia.  The  original  partners  were  William 
Penn,  Samuel  Carpenter  and  Caleb  Pusey  who  con- 
ducted the  business.  An  iron  vane  was  placed 
thereon  pierced  to  bear  the  following  inscription, 
8.  c.  •  c.  p.     The   mill    has    been  demolished  for    some 

1699. 

time  when  the  vane  came  in  possession  of  Reese  W. 
Flower  who  presented  it  to  the  Historical  Society, 
June  1 3th,  1 864.  In  1 872  the  Society  had  it  richly 
gilt  and  placed  on  the  roof  of  their  new  hall  on  Spruce 


THE  GOVERNOR  HAS  A  SON  BORN.       245 

street,  where  it  was  engaged  in  doing  its  i8ist  year  of 
duty,  but  since  removed  to  their  present  location,  1 300 
Locust  street. 


246  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
penn's  proposals    for  the  moral  improvement  of 

THE    negroes    and    INDIANS. MEANNESS    IN 

ALLOWING    HIM    NO    COMPENSATION. 

HIS    ABILITIES    AS    A    WRITER. 

\_Marck — June,  i/oo.'] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council,  held  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  6th  of  ist  month  (March),  1700,  the  Governor 
read  the  letter  he  had  received  from  Secretary  Vernon 
about  sending  home  the  pirates,  and  also  the  remarks 
of  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  on  the  same.  After  some 
debate  about  the  time  and  mode  of  transporting  Dr. 
Brandingham  and  David  Evans,  the  prisoners  here,  it 
was  the  opinion  of  the  board  that  the  Governor  write 
again  to  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  on  the  matter  and  like- 
wise to  his  deputy  Nanfan,  whether  they  will  send  for 
them  and  their  treasure  with  a  guard,  or  whether  they 
must  be  sent  from  here  to  New  York.  Whereupon 
Council  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  30th  of  the 
present  month. 

Penn  addressed  '  a  letter  on  the  6th  to  Lieut- 
Governor  Nanfan  in  which  he  says,  "  I  wait  an  answer 


IMPROVEMENT    OF    NEGROES    AND    INDIANS.        24/ 

to  my  last  from  the  Earl  of  Bellomont,  before  I  pro- 
ceed any  further  about  the  Pirates,  and  should  take  it 
for  a  favour  to  know  the  exact  time  of  your  frigate 
being  ready  to  take  in  these  unhappy  people.  I  am 
glad  the  fair  weather  continues,  hoping  it  will  favour 
New  York  with  the  Lord  Bellomont's  presence  and 
that  at  least  our  commerce  may  be  easier,  which  I 
assure  will  be  very  grateful  to  him  that  with  hearty 
salutes  and  good  wishes  is  thy  assured  and  affectionate 
friend."  On  the  following  day  he  sent  another  letter 
to  the  same,  communicating  the  results  of  the  Council's 
deliberations. 

He  addressed  a  long  letter  to  Secretary  Vernon  on 
the  I  oth  about  the  pirates.  In  regard  to  Philadelphia  he 
says  "  we  are  now  healthy  and  the  river  open  and  the 
spring  looking  favourably  upon  us.  Here  is  a  mighty 
improvement  both  in  town  and  country,  and  if  not  dis- 
couraged may  prove  a  specimen  of  industry  not 
inferior  to  any  of  this  or  former  ages." 

The  Governor  had  a  re-survey  made  of  his  manor 
of'Pennsbury,  from  which  David  Powell  prepared  a 
draft  completed  and  signed  on  the  1 3th,  depositing 
also  a  copy  in  the  Surveyor-General's  office.  Accord- 
ing to  the  same  the  manor  now  contained  6,543  acres, 
about  1 ,888  acres  having  been  either  sold  off  or  granted 
to  servants  attached  to  the  place  since  the  close  of 
1682. 

In  a  letter  to  Col.  Codrington  dh  the  1 5th  the  Gover- 
nor says,  •'  The   King  has  sent  for  the  Pirates  by  the 


248  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Advice  frigate  and  their  treasure  whether  it  be  money 
or  goods  upon  oath,  which  is  hard  that  the  Provinces 
must  be  at  the  charge  and  that  what  should  pay  them 
must  go  all  to  England." 

Through  the  encouragement  of  the  home  govern- 
ment a  considerable  number  of  negroes  had  been 
brought  into  the  Province  from  Africa,  and  disposed  of 
as  slaves.  Their  condition  and  improvement  arrested 
the  attention  of  Penn,  and  accordingly  in  this  month 
and  year  he  introduced  the  subject  before  the  Philadel- 
phia Monthly  Meeting  who,  in  their  minutes,  gave  it 
the  following  notice  : 

"  Our  dear  Friend  and  Governor  having  laid  before 
this  meeting  a  concern  that  hath  lain  upon  his  mind  for 
some  time,  concerning  the  Negroes  and  Indians,  that 
Friends  ought  to  be  very  careful  in  discharging  a  good 
conscience  towards  them  in  all  respects,  but  more  es- 
pecially for  the  good  of  their  souls,  and  that  they 
might,  as  frequent  as  may  be,  come  to  meetings  on 
First  days,  upon  consideration  whereof  this  meeting 
concludes  to  appoint  a  meeting  for  the  Negroes,  to  be 
kept  once  a  month,  &c.,  and  that  their  masters  give 
notice  thereof  in  their  own  families,  and  be  present  with 
them  at  the  said  meetings  as  frequent  as  may  be." 

His  proposals  having  been  agreed  upon,  he  now  en- 
deavored to  proceed  still  further  in  the  good  work,  and 
prepared  a  bill  "  for  regulating  negroes  in  their  morals 
and  marriages,"  and  another  "  for  the  regulation  of  their 
trials  and  punishments."     Though  they  met  the  appro- 


IMPROVEMENT    OF    NEGROES    AND    INDIANS.        249 

bation  of  the  Council,  the  first  was  rejected  by  the  As- 
sembly to  the  regret  of  the  worthy  Governor.  As  re- 
gards his  application  to  the  Monthly  Meeting,  Robert 
Proud  remarks  (vol.  I,  p.  423),  "  Hence  a  meeting  was 
appointed  more  particularly  for  the  Negroes  once  every 
month  ;  and  means  were  used  to  have  more  frequent 
meetings  with  the  Indians  ;  William  Penn  taking  part 
of  the  charge  upon  himself,  particularly  the  manner  of 
it,  and  the  procuring  of  interpreters. 

Though  in  these  opinions  he  was  decidedly  in  ad- 
vance of  the  age,  we  do  not  find  anywhere  in  his  writ- 
ings anything  in  relation  to  the  wrongfulness  of  slavery. 
This  we  could  not  well  expect  from  one  while  he  held 
and  owned  .slaves,  but  by  his  will  made  the  30th  of  7th 
month  of  the  following  year  he  mentions  therein  of  giv- 
ing to  "  my  blacks  their  freedom  as  is  under  my  hand 
already."  Thus  clearly  demonstrating  that  his  senti- 
ments were  not  favorable  to  retaining  people  in  bond- 
age; we  might  further  add  to  his  still  higher  credit,  that 
no  evidence  exists  that  he  ever  sold  or  disposed  of 
them. 

The  Council  met  in  Philadelphia  April  ist,  1700,  on 
which  occasion  the  Proprietary  and  Governor  made  to 
them  an  able  and  interesting  address  from  which  we 
extract  the  following : 

"  Friends,  if  in  the  Constitution  by  Charter  there  be 
any  thing  that  jars,  alter  it ;  if  you  want  a  law  for  this 
or  that  prepare  it.  I  advise  you  not  to  trifle  with 
government.     I   wish   there  was  no   need  of  any,  but 


250  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

since  crimes  prevail  government  is  made  necessary  by 
man's  degeneration.  It  is  not  an  end  but  a  means  ;  he 
that  thinks  it  an  end  aims  at  profit  to  make  a  trade  of 
it.  He  who  thinks  it  to  be  a  means  understands  the 
true  end  of  government.  Friends,  away  with  all  parties, 
and  look  on  yourselves  and  what  is  good  for  all,  as  a 
body  politic,  first  as  under  the  King  and  crown  of 
England  and  next  as  under  me,  by  letters  patent  from 
that  crown.  At  the  late  election  at  Philadelphia,  I  was 
grieved  to  hear  some  make  it  a  matter  of  religion ;  no 
its  humane  and  moral  relating  to  trade,  traffic  and 
public  good  consisting  in  virtue  and  justice;  where 
these  are  maintained  there  is  government  indeed. 
Study  peace,  and  be  at  unity  for  the  good  of  all,  and  I 
desire  to  see  mine  no  otherwise  than  in  the  public's 
prosperity. 

"  The  last  Assembly  made  two  laws,  the  one  against 
piracy,  the  other  against  forbidden  trade.  I  hear  they 
have  not  sat  easy  on  the  backs  of  some,  but  I  hope,  we 
have  therein  been  careful  of  England,  we  shall  have 
thanks  for  making  them  before  we  had  orders  so  to  do, 
and  after  so  many  calumnies  and  complaints  we  have 
been  charged  with.  I  hope  these  two  laws  will  in 
some  degree  wash  us  clean ;  what  concerns  myself  I 
also  leave  with  you  to  consider.  I  have  now  been 
nineteen  years  your  Proprietor  and  Governor,  and  I 
have  at  my  charge  maintained  my  deputy,  whereby  I 
have  much  worsted  my  estate,  and  hope  it  will  be  no 
wonder  to  any  to   hear  me  make  this  mention  of  it. 


IMPROVEMENTS    OF    NEGROES    AND    INDIANS.       25  I 

Some  say  I  come  to  get  money  and  begone,  perhaps 
they  that  say  so,  wish  it  so.  I  hope  I  or  mine  shall  be 
with  you,  while  I  or  they  live.  The  disasters  of  my 
absence  have  been  mine  as  well  as  yours,  and  as  I  am 
used  shall  make  suitable  returns.  I  have  lately  two 
packets  from  Whitehall ;  also  one  to  my  cousin  Mark- 
ham,  and  two  from  Secretary  Vernon  and  am  com- 
mended by  the  Lords  Justices  to  make  laws  against 
piracy  and  illegal  trade.  I  am  glad  we  have  prevented 
their  commands  in  doing  it  before  they  came." 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  also  held  in  this 
month  on  the  2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  8th,  9th,  loth, 
iith,  1 2th,  13th  and  15th,  but  nothing  of  particular 
interest  transpired. 

The  affair  concerning  the  pirates  still  occupied  con- 
siderable of  the  Governor's  attention,  and  in  a  letter 
dated  on  the  1 8th  to  Lord  Bellomont  says,  "  The  pris- 
oners and  money  taken  in  this  Province  namely  Brad- 
ingham,  Eldridge  and  Evans  I  hope  are  safely  arrived 
at  New  York  or  shipped  at  least  on  board  the  New- 
port galley.  There  were  two  more,  one  Arnold  and 
Stanton,  the  last  ran  away  long  before  my  arrival  and 
the  first  of  them  by  Col.  Quarry's  orders  sent  with 
Eldridge  to  Burlington,  he  being  Judge  of  the  Admir- 
alty on  that  side  also,  and  was  by  Col.  Bass  admitted 
to  bail  and  is  somewhere  in  Rhode  Island  or  Con- 
necticut, or  was  lately." 

"There  came  lately  to  my  notice,"  remarks  Penn  in 
a  letter  of  the  22d  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Planta- 


252  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

tions,  "  this  information  that  when  Captain  Kidd  was 
off  our  Capes,  there  went  on  board  one  George 
Thompson,  Peter  Lewis,  Henry  Stretcher,  WilHam 
Orr  and  Diggory  Tenny,  from  the  town  of  Lewis  in 
Sussex.  The  three  first  stayed  on  board  twenty-four 
hours,  the  two  last  but  an  hour,  both  companies 
brought  goods  on  shore  I  hear  to  the  value  of  ;^300 
which  they  concealed  and  sold,  as  they  could  dispose 
of  Some  are  yet  in  their  custody.  Thompson,  Lewis 
and  Orr,  were  on  suspicion  of  being  old  pirates,  whose 
comrades  have  long  sown  themselves  in  Boston, 
Rhode  Island,  New  York,  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, Virginia  and  Carolina,  where  their  Captain,  one 
Reiner  now  dwells  and  Col.  Quarry  tells  me  he 
bought  their  ship,  they  were  eighty-four  in  company. 
Five  of  them  are  in  this  government,  but  thirty  of  them 
followed  husbandry  turning  planters,  the  others  have 
traded." 

We  now  find  from  Penn's  letter  of  the  23d  addressed 
to  Lieut.  Governor  Nanfan,  that  Markham's  son-in-law 
had  now  also  been  sent  on  for  trial.  Respecting  the 
circumstance,  he  mentions  that  "  another  person  one 
James  Brown  was  brought  to  town  by  warrant,  who 
not  only  lies  under  the  suspicion  of  piracy,  but  if  inno- 
cent of  that,  had  the  unhappiness  however  of  coming 
home  in  company  with  Every's  men.  I  now  send  him 
to  New  York,  and  desire  he  may,  with  the  rest  in 
Newport,  be  carried  to  Boston,  where  the  whole  cir- 
cumstances of  his  voyage  are  best  known,  and  where 


ALLOWING    HIM    NO    COMPENSATION.  253 

the  Earl  of  Bellomont's  prudence  will  best  understand 
what  is  fit  to  be  done  with  him,  if  the  evidence  he  says 
he  can  produce  there  of  his  innocency  be  not  sufficient 
to  clear  him,  as  he  pretends  it  has  once  done  already, 
before  Lieut.  Governor  Stoughton." 

During  May  or  3d  month,  we  can  find  but  very 
little  relating  to  Penn.  From  the  minutes  of  Council 
we  know  that  he  was  present  at  their  meetings  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  loth,  13th,  14th,  15th,  i6th,  17th, 
24th,  25th,  27th,  28th,  29th,  30th  and  31st. 

On  the  last  mentioned  date  he  laid  before  the  Coun- 
cil and  Assembly  "a  bill  of  supply  to  him  as  Gover- 
nor, who  never  yet  these  twenty  years  past  had  had  a 
farthing  from  them."  We  are  inclined  to  believe  that 
this  statement  thus  publicly  made  must  certainly  be 
true,  and  to  those  who  should  best  know.  In  his  ad- 
dress to  the  Council  the  previous  month  he  says,  "  I 
have  now  been  nineteen  years  your  Proprietor  and 
Governor,  and  I  have  at  my  charge  maintained  my 
deputy,  whereby  I  have  much  worsted  my  estate." 
Respecting  this  matter  Isaac  Norris  thus  alludes  in  a 
letter  to  Philip  Ford,  written  on  the  1 3th  of  the  fol- 
lowing (4th)  month  :  "  Our  Assembly,  after  a  monthly 
sitting  and  hot  debate,  broke  up,  and  did  little  more 
than  deliver  up  and  vote  out  the  Charter.  A  bill  was 
prepared  to  give  our  Governor  three  pounds  tax,  but 
opposed  and  voted  out — I  think  very  unhandsomely. 
They  have  given  him,  indeed,  an  impost  upon  liquors, 
which   some  of  them  magnify  to  ;^iooo  per   annum, 


2  54  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

because  they  would  seem  to  come  off  with  flying 
colors;  but  I  do  not  think  it  worth  one  half  the 
money.      Experience  will  show." 

This  meanness  on  the  part  of  the  Assembly,  as  well 
as  the  people  here  recalls  the  remarks  of  Governor 
Fletcher  on  this  very  subject  in  1693.  "  It  is  reported 
that  how  much  soever  they  appear  his  friends  they 
stagger  when  he  comes  near  their  purses."  Again  to 
the  Board  of  Trade  he  says,  "  Your  Lordships  will  per- 
ceive that  these  people  have  as  little  regard  for  the  in- 
terest of  their  Proprietor  Mr.  Penn  as  they  have  for 
his  Majesty's  service."  In  his  Address  to  Friends  be- 
fore his  late  departure  he  said,  "  I  have  from  the  first 
endeavored  to  serve  you,  and  that  at  my  own  charges, 
with  an  upright  mind,  however  misunderstood  and 
treated  by  some  whom  I  heartily  forgive."  The 
Spaniards  have  been  accused  with  ingratitude  to  Co- 
lumbus, but  he  was  a  foreigner,  and  it  had  happened 
two  centuries  before.  Penn  in  comparison  lived  in  a 
modern  age  and  the  ingratitude  manifested  towards 
him  was  altogether  by  his  countrymen  and  friends,  of 
whom  he  had  a  right  to  expect  more.  It  would  thus 
appear  that  cool,  designing,  selfish  beings  were  not  un- 
frequent  even  in  those  days,  from  whom  it  was  his  lot 
unfortunately  to  realize  bitter  lessons  of  experience 
both  here  and  in  England. 

Meetings  with  the  Council  were  held  by  Penn  on 
June  1st,  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,  25th  and  26th,  when 
they  adjourned  to  the  ist  of  the  following  month.  On 


HIS    ABILITIES    AS    A    WRITER.  255 

the  25th,  the  Governor  sent  the  messenger  to  have  the 
Council  to  attend  him  at  his  house.  Edward  Shippen, 
Samuel  Carpenter,  John  Moll,  William  Clark,  Caleb 
Pusey  and  Robert  Turner  appeared,  Griffith  Owen  and 
Joseph  Growdon  being  absent.  He  stated  to  them 
that  since  the  Charter  was  delivered  up  again  to  him, 
it  was  not  proper  that  he  should  be  without  a  Council 
and  that  therefore  he  had  made  choice  of  them,  and 
desired  the  Secretary  to  read  the  qualification  prepared 
for  them  to  sign,  which  was  accordingly  subscribed 
and  they  took  their  places  at  the  board.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  it  was  agreed  that  the  Council  meet  every 
4th  day  of  the  week  at  the  Governor's  house,  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and  oftener  if  he  should  deem 
it  necessary  to  give  them  notice. 

We  have  previously  spoken  of  Penn's  ability  and 
aptitude  as  a  letter  writer,  and  the  following  is  no  ex- 
ception. We  regret,  owing  to  its  length,  that  we  can- 
not give  this  letter  entire ;  it  was  addressed  to  M. 
Birch,  who,  it  appears,  was  the  Collector  of  Customs 
at  New  Castle,  a  position  he  held  under  the  home 
government.  We  wish  the  communication  that 
elicited  the  reply  could  also  be  given,  if  for  no  other 
reason  than  for  comparison. 

"  Philada.  2d,  4th  month,  1700. 
"  M.  Birch,  I  received   thy  short  hand  letter  of  the 
28th  past,  and  am  sorry  that  after  so  much  care  taken 
to  make  masters  of  vessels  remember  their  duty  to  the 


256  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Port  and  solemn  promises  given  by  them  before  they 
are  discharged  here,  any  should  be  so  rude  or  negligent 
as  to  pass  you  by  unregarded.  There  is  a  short  Bill 
now  before  the  Assembly  to  make  omission  penal. 
Yet  hadst  thou  a  boat  as  Collectors  in  other  places 
have,  and  which  thou  canst  not  think  I  am  obliged  to 
find  thee,  thou  mightst  easily  take  a  course,  having  law 
on  thy  side  and  art  like  to  have  a  stronger,  to  make 
them  more  observant  and  bring  the  refractory  to 
reason.  Thou  canst  not  expect  that  any  at  Philadel- 
phia forty  miles  distant  from  you  can  put  laws  in 
execution  at  New  Castle,  without  any  care  or  vigilance 
of  officers  there,  especially  since  no  place  in  the  river 
or  bay  yields  that  prospect  that  is  at  New  Castle  of 
seeing  twenty  miles  one  way  and  a  dozen  the  other, 
any  vessel  coming  either  up  or  down. 

"  I  must  confess  I  thought  the  particular  regard  I 
have  always  shown  to  the  King's  concerns  since  my 
arrival,  as  well  as  his  immediate  officers,  and  their  par- 
ticular interests  might  have  deserved  better  returns  than 
such  testy  expressions  as  thou  flingst  out  in  thy  letters 
both  to  myself  and  of  me  to  the  Members  of  Council, 
Pray  let  not  me  be  a  sufferer  for  the  pique  thou  hast 
against  the  Collector  here.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
your  differences  let  your  Masters  at  home  decide  it, 
what  comes  fairly  before  me  I  shall  acquit  myself  with 
honour  and  justice  to  the  best  of  my  understanding, 
without  regard  to  fear  or  favour  for  those  sordid  pas- 
sions shall  never  move  the  Proprietor  and  Governor  of 


HIS    ABILITIES    AS    A    WRITER.  257 

Pennsylvania.  I  understood  thou  talkst  of  writing 
home,  and  making  I  know  not  what  complaints.  I 
hope  thou  wilt  be  cautious  on  that  point  at  least  I 
should  write  too,  which  when  I  do,  may  prove  loud 
enough  to  make  thee  sensible  of  it  at  a  distance." 


17 


258  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PENN    SUGGESTS    THE    NIGHT    WATCH    IN    PHILADELPHIA. 
ATTENDS    HAVERFORD    MEETING. MAKES    ADDI- 
TIONAL   IMPROVEMENTS    AT    PENNSBURY. 

{^July,  August,  i/oo.'] 

As  had  been  determined,  on  adjournment,  the  Coun- 
cil met  at  the  Governor's  house  on  the  ist  of  July, 
1 700,  when  it  was  unanimously  agreed  upon  that  a  per- 
son be  appointed  and  authorized  to  go  through  the 
town  with  a  small  bell  during  the  night  to  give  notice 
of  the  hour  and  weather,  and  also  if  any  disorders  or 
danger  happen  from  fire  or  otherwise,  to  inform  the 
constables  thereof  It  was  further  agreed  that  the  Sec- 
retary "  give  notice  to  Benjamin  Chambers  and  

Powell,  keepers  of  the  ferries  over  Schuylkill,  that  after 
the  close  of  day  to  transport  no  persons  unless  well 
known  to  them  or  that  cannot  give  a  good  account  of 
themselves."  This  undoubtedly  was  the  origin  of  the 
night  watchmen  in  Philadelphia.  The  Governor  pro- 
posed to  the  Council  to  consider  upon  the  law  about 
making  prisons  more  effectually  workhouses.  It  was 
upon  this  idea  that  the  present  penitentiaries  and  houses 


PENN    SUGGESTS    THE    NIGHT    WATCH.  259 

of  refuge  in  the  State  were  established,  and  we  there- 
fore need  not  wonder  that  the  "  Pennsylvania  system  " 
has  had  such  an  extended  reputation  for  the  reformation 
of  criminals.  The  Governor  held  meetings  of  the 
Council  also  on  the  3d,  loth,  17th,  24th  and  31st  of 
this  month. 

In  a  letter  to  Lord  Bellomont,  dated  "  Philia.  4,  5 
mo.,  i/CX)"  the  Governor  remarks,  "If  thy  Indian 
officers  are  true  to  thee,  and  that  seasonable  presents 
be  made  them  I  should  be  under  no  apprehensions  of 
danger.  I  expect  two  hundred  of  our  Western  and 
Northern  Indians  with  me  every  day,  and  shall  en- 
deavor such  an  understanding  with  them  as  may  dis- 
appoint the  French  this  way  and  find  out  their  coun- 
sels, as  far  as  may  be  on  your  side.  I  am  not  without 
some  perplexity  from  the  same  men  and  measures  that 
have  been  thine  but  I  am  not  without  hopes  of  con- 
quering them.  A  Governor  has  need  of  wisdom  and 
patience,  as  well  as  justice  which  I  pray  for.  I  have 
had  the  company  of  my  kinsman  Parmiter  some  weeks 
whom  I  find  thy  sincere  servant." 

Since  his  return  from  England  we  now  find  the 
earliest  positive  information  of  Penn  residing  at  Penns- 
bury.  This  in  part,  no  doubt,  was  owing  to  his  family 
relations  as  well  as  the  nature  of  his  complicated 
affairs  respecting  the  pirates,  the  giving  up  the  Char- 
ter, the  withholding  of  compensation  and  numerous 
other  matters  that  could  best  require  attention  at  the 
metropolis  and  seat  of  government.     Owing  to  a  gouty 


260  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

attack  of  his  limb  he  was  now  in  part  confined  to 
bed,  as  the  following  extracts  will  show  (Penn  and 
Logan  Cors.,  vol.  I,  pp.  4,  5),  from  a  letter  dated  at 
Pennsbury  the  23d  of  5th  month,  1700,  and  addressed 
to  his  Secretary,  James  Logan,  in  Philadelphia.  In 
his  letter  to  Lord  Bellomont  mention  is  made  of  an 
expectation  every  day  of  a  visit  from  several  hundred 
Indians,  which  he  now  directs  to  come  to  Pennsbury 
if  he  should  not  be  able  to  come  to  town,  and  for  whom 
he  was  now  making  preparations  to  entertain. 

"  I  am  concerned  my  leg  is  so  little  encouraging  for 
a  journey,  and  John  is  not  here  to  row ;  however  I 
propose  to  be  in  town,  if  I  can,  to-morrow  ;  if  not  able 
to  be  there  by  five  in  the  afternoon,  must  submit  to 
Providence,  and  desire  four  of  the  Council,  the  collector, 
and  minutes  and  witnesses  to  come  hither,  which  they 
may  do  by  my  barge,  which  I  will  send  to  Burlington 
for  them,  where  they  may  come  in  a  Burlington  boat 
to-morrow  by  twelve,  and  be  here  by  two.  However 
let  John  have  the  coach  ready,  and  horses  to  put  in  it, 
that  if  I  come,  I  may  be  helped  down.  Salute  me  to 
the  Commissioners  and  Council,  and  Friends.  We  are 
else  well,  and  pleased  in  our  retreat. 

"  Half  the  five  gallons  of  rum  ran  out,  at  Philadel- 
phia, in  the  boat,  as  they  say.  If  I  am  not  with  you 
to-morrow,  by  eleven  or  five,  let  the  Indians  come 
hither ;  but  send,  in  the  boat,  white  bread,  more  rum, 
and  the  match-coats.  Let  the  Council  adjourn  to  this 
place.     If  I   come  not,  here  will  be  victuals,  and  they 


I 

ATTENDS    HAVERFORD    MEETING.  26 1 

may  lie  at  Burlington.  I  wrote  part  of  this  upon  the 
bed." 

An  addition  having  been  built  this  year  to  the  Hav- 
erford  meeting  house  at  an  expense  of  ^^158,  which 
greatly  increased  its  accommodations  to  the  wants  of  a 
growing  neighborhood.  Robert  Sutclifif,  a  Friend 
from  Sheffield,  England,  in  his  "  Travels  in  North 
America"  (p.  109)  makes  mention  of  having  visited 
this  meeting  the  12th  of  loth  month,  1805,  and  of 
which  he  gives  the  following  interesting  account: 
"  This  day  attended  Haverford  meeting,  at  which  were 
several  strangers.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  meeting- 
houses in  America ;  and  at  the  early  settlement  of  this 
meeting,  Friends  of  Philadelphia  went  every  third 
First  day  to  attend  it ;  most  of  them  coming  on  foot  a 
distance  of  about  ten  miles.  At  that  time  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  road  was  through  a  shady  forest.  By 
the  early  minutes  of  the  Monthly  Meeting,  it  appears 
that  several  Friends  were  appointed  to  mark  out  a  road 
through  the  woods  from  Philadelphia,  to  Haverford 
and  Radnor  meetings." 

At  page  2 1 1  mentions  that  several  months  previous 
he  spent  an  evening  at  the  house  of  R.  J.,  a  very  aged 
Friend  residing  near  Merion,  who  related  to  him  that 
"  he  had  heard  from  an  ancient  Friend  at  whose  house 
he  had  lodged,  of  the  name  of  Rebecca  Wood.  When 
a  little  girl  she  used  sometimes  to  walk  from  Darby, 
where  she  resided,  to  Haverford  meeting,  the  distance 
of  a   few  miles.     One  day  as  she  was  walking  along. 


262  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

she  was  overtaken  by  a  Friend  on  horseback,  who 
proved  to  be  William  Penn.  On  coming  up  with  her 
he  inquired  where  she  was  going;  and  on  her  inform- 
ing him,  he,  with  his  usual  good  nature,  desired  her  to 
get  up  behind  him ;  and  bringing  his  horse  to  a  con- 
venient place,  she  mounted,  and  so  rode  away  upon  the 
bare  back.  Being  without  shoes  or  stockings,  her 
bare  legs  and  feet  hung  dangling  by  the  side  of  the 
governor's  horse.  Although  William  Penn  was  at 
that  time  both  Governor  and  Proprietor,  he  did  not 
think  it  beneath  him  thus  to  help  along  a  poor  bare- 
footed girl  on  her  way  to  meeting,  and  notwithstand- 
ing the  maxims  and  customs  of  the  world,  these  little 
kind  offices  to  those  he  was  appointed  to  govern,  that 
there  perhaps  never  was  a  Governor,  who  stood  higher 
in  the  opinion  of  those  governed  by  him,  than  William 
Penn  did." 

A  tradition  still  prevails  in  the  neighborhood  on  the 
occasion  of  the  Governor  attending  this  meeting,  which 
it  is  very  likely  was  about  this  time,  that  he  arose  and 
spoke  and  that  a  number  of  the  Welsh  Friends  present 
could  not  understand  him,  having  no  knowledge  of 
the  language.  But  this  was  nothing  new,  for  having 
settled  in  a  great  body  the  Welsh  was  chiefly  spoken 
there  for  many  years  afterwards. 

On  the  2d  of  6th  month,  Hannah  Penn  writes  from 
Pennsbury  to  Logan  wherein  she  mentions  that  "al- 
though John  tells  my  husband  of  bricks  prepared  by 
J.   Redman,  yet  he  inclines  to  let  E.  James  finish  the 


MAKES    IMPROVEMENTS    AT    PENNSBURY.  263 

room  which  his  men  have  begun.  As  for  bricks,  let 
him  get  no  more  than  he  has  already  bespoke,  for  my 
husband  is  informed  he  may  have  these  of  a  new 
maker  at  Burlington,  a  crown  cheaper,  and  much 
better,  besides  less  charge  in  bringing.  We  expect 
John  Sotcher  to-morrow.  Pray  send  by  the  first  boat 
the  deal  boards  from  John  Parsons,  and  our  dog-wheel, 
not  else ;  but  desire  thou  wilt  let  me  hear  of  all  op- 
portunities for  England,  and  of  any  considerable  news 
thence.  We  are  all  indifferent  well.  Let  not  Jack  go 
till  the  Indians  have  been  there ;  and  get  Indian  meal 
for  mush  against  they  come.  Pray  send  a  pound  or 
two  chocolate,  if  to  be  had." 

We  ascertain  from  the  aforesaid  that  considerable 
improvements  were  being  made  to  the  buildings  at 
Pennsbury.  By  Jack  the  steward  John  Sotcher  is  evi- 
dently meant,  and  we  observe  preparations  being  still 
made  for  the  expected  coming  of  the  Indians.  By  the 
inquiry  concerning  news  from  England  was  meant 
whether  any  letters  had  been  received  from  there  or 
opportunities  offered  to  send. 

A  meeting  of  the  Council  was  held  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  7th  of  August  at  which  the  Governor  was 
present.  On  which  occasion  complaint  was  made  to 
the  board  "  that  the  late  firing  of  guns  from  on  board 
some  vessels  lying  before  Philadelphia,  has  not  only 
frightened  women  and  children,  but  also  some  of  the 
Seneca  Indians  that  came  hither  to  treat  with  this 
government  to  depart,  believing  the  firing  of  said  guns 


264  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

to  have  been  signs  of  hostility  intended  against  them. 
It  was  therefore  ordered  that  no  vessels  lying  before 
the  town  of  Philadelphia  shall  fire  any  guns  but  at 
coming  in  and  going  out,  as  a  sign  of  their  arrival  and 
departure,  and  that  James  Logan  give  notice  to  Mas- 
ters of  vessels  of  this  order  at  the  entry  of  their  vessels 
in  his  office.  The  Governor  also,  informed  the  three 
Seneca  Indians  that  staid  behind  that  it  was  the  cus- 
tom of  the  English  to  fire  guns  as  a  sign  of  joy  and 
kind  entertainment  of  their  friends  coming  on  board ; 
and  as  in  no  ways  intended  to  frighten  or  disoblige 
them.  He  also  informed  them,  that  they  were  and 
should  be  very  welcome  to  this  government,  and  in 
token  of  amity  and  friendship  with  them  gave  them  a 
belt  of  wampum,  to  be  shown  to  the  other  Seneca 
Indians  that  went  away  upon  firing  the  said  guns, 
which  they  kindly  accepted.  The  Governor  also  de- 
sired the  members  of  Council  to  go  on  board  Capt. 
Sims'  vessel  with  the  said  three  Indians  and  their  in- 
terpreter, that  they  might  see  the  manner  of  the 
English  on  board  their  vessels,  which  was  accordingly 
done  to  their  great  satisfaction." 

Penn  met  the  Council  again  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
14th  and  15th.  On  the  latter  day  it  was  "  ordered  by 
the  Governor  and  Council,  that  the  King's  highway  or 
public  road,  and  the  bridges  thereon  from  the  town  of 
Philadelphia  to  the  Falls  of  Delaware  that  now  are,  be 
with  all  expedition  sufficiently  cut  and  cleared  from  all 
timber,  trees,   stumps,  logs   and    all    other    nuisances 


MAKES    IMPROVEMENTS    AT    PENNSBURY.  265 

whatsoever  that  lie  across  said  way,  and  that  the  same 
over  all  creeks  and  branches,  may  be  made  passable, 
commodious,  safe  and  easy  for  man,  horse,  cart,  wagon 
or  team,  by  the  respective  overseers  of  the  highways 
and  bridges  within  the  respective  precincts,  townships 
and  counties  of  Philadelphia  and  Bucks,  according  to 
law.  And  that  the  respective  Courts  of  Justice  and 
Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  said  Counties,  cause  the 
same  to  be  duly  performed,  and  the  laws  in  those  cases 
made  and  provided  to  be  strictly  put  in  execution,  un- 
der the  respective  penalties  therein  contained,  and  that 
the  Secretary  send  a  copy  of  this  order  to  the  counties 
of  Philadelphia  and  Bucks  respectively." 

On  the  2 2d  the  Governor  wrote  from  Pennsbury  to 
Logan,  and  in  regard  to  the  surveys  then  being  made 
says,  "Take  care  also  that  I  have  five  hundred  acres  in 
every  township  that  is  laid  out,  and  that  the  surveyor 
do  me  right  therein.  Send  me  up  one  of  Samuel 
Carpenter's  compasses  for  the  woods,  to  steer  by  and 
take  courses,  by  the  first  opportunity.  Urge  the  Jus- 
tices about  the  bridge  at  Pennepecka  and  Poquessin, 
forthwith  for  a  carriage,  or  I  cannot  come  down.  J. 
Redson  would  be  expeditious  in  it,  if  pressed  from 
me." 

Hannah  Penn  on  said  day  to  the  same,  mentions 
that  "  If  the  Swiss  Captain  be  uneasy  to  stay  till  next 
week,  fail  not  to  accompany  him  Fourth  or  Fifth  day  ; 
but  you  must  depend  on  nothing  here  but  a  dinner, 
and    return   to  Buckingham   or  Burlington  at    night, 


266  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

because  of  company  in  the  house.  Endeavor  to  in- 
form thyself  of  his  incHnation ;  and  if  practicable  en- 
courage it,  makes  my  husband  the  more  solicitious  to 
have  him  pleased.  Let  Edward  Shippen  know  his 
daughters  are  well,  and  shall  come  in  our  boat  with 
John  to-morrow  or  next  day." 

In  the  aforesaid  we  see  that  the  Governor  must  have 
been  considerably  given  to  journeys  on  horseback 
through  the  woods  at  this  time  to  require  the  use  of  a 
compass.  We  also  learn  that  he  was  desirous  that  the 
bridges  over  the  Pennypack  and  Poquessing  be  finished 
for  the  crossing  of  his  carriage  to  Philadelphia. 
Buckingham  was  the  ancient  name  of  Bristol,  where  a 
house  of  entertainment  had  been  established  before  the 
Proprietary's  first  arrival.  The  hint  about  ascertaining 
the  Captain's  inclination  is  quite  ingenious.  Edward 
Shippen,  whose  daughters  had  been  visiting  at  Penns- 
bury,  came  from  Hilham  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and 
emigrated  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1669.  Being 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  owing  to 
persecution  removed  from  there  to  Philadelphia  in 
1693.  On  his  arrival  in  December,  1699,  the 
Governor  and  his  family  occupied  his  mansion  for 
about  a  month.  When  the  city  was  chartered  in 
October  of  the  following  year  he  was  appointed  by 
Penn  its  first  Mayor.  He  also  held  other  ofifices  as 
Speaker  of  Assembly  and  member  of  the  Provincial 
Council. 

We   hear  from   Pennsbury  again  on  the  31st.     "I 


MAKES    IMPROVEMENTS    AT    PENNSBURY.  267 

want,"  writes  the  Governor,  "a  quire  of  large  and 
small  quarto  paper,  by  first  opportunity.  The  fur, 
&c.,  is  come,  a  dear  voyage  by  the  boat.  Let  me 
know  John  Askew's  last  day,  or  his  ships.  If  the 
foxes  be  any  inconvenience,  pray  forbid  it,  for  I  am  in- 
different to  send  or  stay  them.  We  shall  want  about 
twelve  bushels  of  lime  more,  which  send  off  first  to 
Samuel  Jennings  for  me.  We  are  through  mercy 
well." 

He  had  expected  to  send  to  England  as  a  present  to 
a  friend  a  couple  of  young  tame  foxes.  By  the 
demand  for  more  lime  denotes  that  the  improvements 
there  were  still  going  on,  and  it  was  perhaps  owing  to 
the  unfinished  state  of  the  buildings  at  this  time  that 
the  accommodations  for  lodgers  was  limited. 


268  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

TOO     MUCH    THE    PRACTICE    TO    CHEAT    THE     GOVERNOR. 

PACIFIES     A     TROUBLESOME     INDIAN. VISITS 

NEW      YORK      WITH     THE      GOVERNORS 
OF    VIRGINIA    AND    NEW    JERSEY. 

{September,  i/oo.'] 

During  the  greater  portion  of  September,  we  are  in- 
clined to  believe,  the  Governor  continued  at  Penns- 
bury,  where  he  was  still  vigorously  going  on  with  his 
improvements.  On  the  3d  he  wrote  from  here  to  his 
Secretary,  wherein  he  says,  "  I  think  to  be  in  town  the 
first  fair  day,  and  so  let  Edward  Antill  know.  Send 
up  our  great  stew-pan  and  cover,  and  little  soup  dish, 
and  two  or  three  pounds  of  coffee,  if  sold  in  the 
town,  and  three  pounds  of  wick,  ready  spun  for  can- 
dles, per  next  opportunity.  The  lime  may  be  kept  till 
our  men  come  up.  Lassel  is  plumber  enough ;  but 
if  thee  can  get  Cornelius  Empson's  man,  and  he  has 
tools,  send  speedily,  for  the  house  suffers  in  great  rains 
for  want  thereof  If  Lassel  dares  undertake  mend- 
ing of  the  leads,  per  first  opportunity  send  him  up. 
Three  bundles  of  skins   that  Sol.  Ward   returned  are 


PPIACTICE   TO    CHEAT    THE    GOVERNOR.  269 

in  my  chamber ;  send  one  to  Billy,  the  others  to  my 
father,  Callowhill,  and  get  John  Askew  to  put  them  in 
his  chest,  and  give  him  the  enclosed  letters  also." 

It  would  seem  that  cofifee  was  not  then  an  article  of 
general  sale  and  but  little  introduced.  It  appears  the 
leakage  of  the  "  leads  "  was  a  constant  source  of  trou- 
ble as  well  as  expense,  and  from  their  imperfect  con- 
dition eventually  caused  the  destruction  of  the  man- 
sion by  a  decay  from  the  rains.  By  Billy  is  probably 
meant  his  son  then  in  England. 

"Tell  John  Moore,"  he  writes  on  the  5th,  "  I  would 
have  him  get  indicted  one  John  Walch  of  that  county 
for  coming  into  this  county  and  taking  hence  two 
strays ;  one  a  roan  mare  and  colt,  and  the  other  a 
brown  bay  gelding — both  four  years  old  last  spring  or 
thereabouts.  Twas  last  4th  month.  I  have  often 
heard  ill  of  him  for  driving  horses  from  one  county  to 
another,  and  am  much  a  loser  by  such  fellows  and 
practices.  It  is  too  much  a  practice  to  think  it  no 
fault  to  cheat  the  Governor."  Moore  was  prosecuting 
attorney  in  the  Court  of  Admiralty  established  by  the 
Crown.  All  unclaimed  strays  as  well  as  unmarked 
stock  were  forfeited  to  the  Governor. 

He  writes  again  from  Pennsbury  the  following  day 
(6th  of  7th  mo.,  1700),  and  thus  alludes  to  Thomas 
Fairman.  "  I  hear  an  Indian  township  called  To- 
hickon,  rich  land,  and  much  cleared  by  the  Indians, 
he  has  not  surveyed  to  mine  and  children's  tract,  as  I 
expected.     It  joins   upon  the  back   of  my  manor  of 


270  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Highlands,  and  I  am  sorry  my  surveyor-general  did 
not  inform  me  thereof,  for  which  cause  he  shall  never 
survey  a  foot  more  ;  but  I  will  know  where  and  what, 
by  him  or  his  deputies.  I  feared  a  surprise,  told  him 
so,  and  now  find, it  to  my  great  dissatisfaction;  but  for 
the  future  shall  prevent  it.  If  it  be  not  in  thy  war- 
rants, put  it  in,  except  lands  already  or  formally 
taken  up,  or  an  Indian  township.  The  Indians  have 
been  with  me  about  it. 

*'  Next,  pray  speak  for  3  or  4,000  bricks,  and  tell  J. 
Parsons  I  expect  his  150  foot  of  boards  three  months 
sooner,  and  pay  for  them.  Also  a  load  or  thirty 
bushels  of  lime,  and  let  them  be  ready  by  6th  night,  if 
possible,  to  be  here  by  the  flat  on  7th  day,  or  2d  day, 
and  two  of  my  folks  shall  come  in  the  little  boat  to 
bring  it  up.  Fail  not  to  send  up  a  flitch  of  our  bacon, 
and  by  all  means  chocolate,  if  to  be  had,  and  a  cask 
of  middling  flour,  from  Samuel  Carpenter  or  I.  Norris, 
and  some  coffee-berries  four  pounds.  Some  flat  and 
some  deep  earthen  pans  for  milk  and  baking,  which 
Betty  Webb  can  help  thee  to,  and  cask  of  Indian  meal ; 
search  Lumley's  goods,  search  for  an  ordinary  side- 
saddle and  pillion,  and  some  coarse  linen  for  towels. 
We  are  as  well  as  the  heat  will  let  us,  but  my  leg  still 
out  of  order  and  swells  still  about  my  ankle. 

"  Captain  Hans  stays ;  we  have  adjusted  the  matter. 
Encourage  Hetcoqueean,  and  give  him  ten  bits  to 
fetch  down  the  Indians,  if  they  desire ;  else  not^ 
assure  them  of  friendship.     Let  us  have  four  dozen  of 


PACIFIES    A    TROUBLESOME    INDIAN.  2/1 

square  hearth  tiles,  with  the  rest  of  the  things.  Let 
me  know  the  last  day  of  John  Askew's  stay ;  also,  if 
they  will  take  a  couple  of  young  tame  foxes.  Pray 
examine  closely  about  those  that  fired  upon  the 
Indians,  and  frighted  them  by  Dan.  Pegg's,  it  is  of 
moment  to  us,  and  if  true,  roguishly  designed,  I 
doubt  not,  and  shall  be  severely  punished." 

Captain  Hans  was  an  Indian  trader  of  whom  there 
is  some  account  in  chapter  xxvii.  John  Askew  was  a 
prominent  London  merchant,  now  on  a  visit  to  this 
country,  and  it  would  appear  the  owner  of  a  ship. 
Daniel  Pegg  resided  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Front  and  Willow  streets,  where  Pegg's  run  now 
empties  into  the  Delaware  through  a  culvert  on  the 
line  of  the  latter  street.  We  thus  see  that  Penn  was 
determined  in  all  his  actions,  or  as  far  as  laid  in  his 
power,  to  be  on  amicable  terms  with  the  Indians,  for 
which  he  cannot  receive  too  much  praise. 

Heckoqucom,  Hetcoquean  or  Wehequeekhon,  his 
name  being  variously  spelled,  is  the  only  instance  I 
have  found  in  all  my  researches  of  any  Indian  being 
troublesoniie,  either  while  Penn  was  in  the  colony  or 
in  the  'interval  of  his  absence  up  to  his  departure  for 
England.  Respecting  him  in  consequence,  I  have  felt 
curious  and  have  gleaned  from  various  sources  suffi- 
cient to  make  out  the  following  account :  In  the  deed 
of  June  15th,  1692,  he  is  called  "  King  Hickoqucom," 
and  with  three  others  disposes  of  all  their  right  to  lands 
lying   between   the    Neshaminy  and   Poquessing  from 


272  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  river  Delaware.  Polycarpus  Rose  informs  the 
Council,  December  19th,  1693,  that  about  five  weeks 
previous  he  had  "some  discourse  with  a  certain  Indian 
King,  called  Hicquoqueen,"  when  he  "  resented  the 
unkindness  of  the  English  to  the  Indians  here ;  and 
further  said  that  they  were  not  like  to  hold  the  land 
much  longer,  for  that  they  were  not  satisfied  for  it" 
(Col.  Records,  vol.  I,  p.  396.)  No  doubt  he  is  the 
same  whom  Samuel  Smith  mentions  in  his  history  of 
the  Province  (Haz.  Register,  vol.  II,  p.  2 1 5)  as  coming 
to  the  house  of  John  Chapman,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Wrightstown,  Bucks  county,  under  the  fol- 
lowing circumstances  :  "  One  of  their  chiefs,"  he  says, 
"  however  one  day  coming  to  him  in  an  angry  tone 
told  him  it  was  their  land  he  was  settled  on,  pointing 
to  a  small  distance,  where  the  bounds  of  the  English 
purchase  and  borrowing  an  axe,  marked  a  line  to  the 
southeast  of  his  house,  and  went  away  without  giving 
him  any  further  trouble  at  that  time ;  and  the  Proprie- 
tor's Commissioners  soon  after  making  a  second  pur- 
chas  prevented  any  uneasiness  in  the  future."  In  the 
deed  of  July  5th,  1697,  Wehequeekhon  alias  Andrew, 
is  mentioned  as  the  son  of  Taminy  and  "  who  is  to 
be  king  "  after  his  death.  This  was  for  a  purchase  of 
the  lands  between  the  Pennypack  and  Neshaminy 
creeks.  At  a  Council  held  at  the  house  of  Edward 
Farmer,  Indian  interpreter  at  Whitemarsh,  the  1 9th  of 
May,  17 1 2,  mention  is  made  that  Hetoqueen  had  died 
soon   after  he  had  got  the  belts  from  Governor  Penn 


VISITS    NEW    YORK.  2/3 

eleven  years  before.  He  is  mentioned  as  attending 
with  several  other  Indians  a  Council  held  at  Philadel- 
phia, July  26th,  1 70 1,  at  which  time  he  may  have 
received  the  afore-mentioned  belts,  as  we  know  that 
Penn  expected  some  .  Indians  there  about  that  time. 
We  thus  see  that  he  was  an  Indian  of  some  note 
whom  Penn  directed  his  Secretary  to  encourage  with 
a  present  and  as  one  possessing  influence  amongst 
them.  From  his  claims  he  must  have  been  a  resident 
of  Philadelphia  or  Bucks..  He  may  have  been  of  in- 
temperate habits,  hence  his  troublesomeness  which  it  is 
likely  did  not  appear  while  the  Proprietary  was  among 
us. 

The  Governor  on  the  7th  writes  that  "  The  weather 
by  water  hinders  me.  My  leg  is  well  advanced,  and 
would  not  throw  it  back ;  yet  the  first  fair  day,  will, 
God  willing,  set  forward ;  and  had  done  so  sooner,  if 
coach  or  calash  had  been  here,  as  the  ways  are 
tolerable  cut."  He  probably  means  that  the  weather 
was  too  stormy  to  travel  with  comfort  or  safety  by 
water  in  his.  barge.  We  see  that  tolerable  advance 
must  have  been  made  by  this  time  in  opening  the  road 
from  Philadelphia  to  the  Falls. 

Penn  was  present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Council  held 
in  Philadelphia  on  the  i  ith  and  following  day.  It  was 
resolved  on  the  1 2th,  that  the  Proprietary  and  Gover- 
nor issue  writs  immediately  to  summon  the  freemen  in 
each  county  to  meet  on  the  i  st  of  8th  month  next,  to 

18 


2/4  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

choose  four  persons  to  serve  as  their  representatives  in 
Assembly,  to  meet  at  New  Castle  on  the  following 
14th,  the  Secretary  to  have  said  writs  prepared  forth- 
with. 

From  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  (vol.  I,  pp,  133-4), 
we  learn  that  on  the  1 3th,  '*  Weddaagh,  alias  Orytyagh, 
and  Andaggy-junkquagh,  Kings  or  Sachemas  of  the 
Susquehanna  Indians,  and  of  the  River  under  that 
name,  and  lands  lying  on  both  sides  thereof,  do  declare 
that  for  and  in  consideration  of  a  parcel  of  English 
goods,  unto  us  given,  by  our  friend  and  brother 
William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  also  in  consideration  of  the  former  much 
greater  costs  and  charges,  the  said  William  Penn  hath 
been  at  intreating  about  and  purchasing  the  same. 
We  do  hereby  give,  grant  and  confirm  all  the  said  river 
Susquehanna  and  all  the  islands  therein,  and  all  the 
lands  situate,  lying  and  being  upon  both  sides  of  the 
said  river,  and  next  adjoining  to  the  same,  extending 
to  the  utmost  confines  of  the  lands,  which  are  or 
formerly  were  the  right  of  the  people  or  nation  called 
the  Susquehanna  Indians.  And  we  do  hereby  rat- 
ify and  confirm  unto  the  said  William  Penn  the  bar- 
gain and  sale  of  the  said  lands,  made  unto  Col. 
Thomas  Dongan,  now  Earl  of  Limerick,  and  formerly 
Governor  of  New  York,  whose  deed  of  sale  to  the 
said  Governor  Penn  we  have  seen,  to  the  said  William 
Penn,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  set  our  hands 
and  seals   the    13th  day  of  September   1700.     Sealed 


VISITS    NEW    YORK.  275 

and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Edward  Antill,  Henry 
Tregeny,  Esq.,  Edward  Singleton,  David  Powell  and 
James  Logan." 

On  the  14th,  the  Governor  writes  to  Logan  from 
Pennsbury  that  "  We  want  rum  here,  having  not  a 
quarter  of  a  pint  in  the  house  among  so  many  work- 
men ;  best  in  bottles  sealed  down,  or  it  may  be  drawn 
and  mixed ;  send  by  Burlington  boat,  except  S.  Hill 
carefully  carry  it  to  Ann  Jennings  for  us — six  quarts  ; 
and  if  an  hogshead  of  lime  could  be  reasonably 
brought  by  any  boat  that  comes  to  the  mill  at  Brocks, 
as  Isaac  Norris,  etc,  or  to  Burlington,  we  could  send 
for  it,  and  that  would  close  all  for  this  year  of  that  nature 
we  think. 

"  Let  Joseph  Wood  (sheriff  of  New  Castle  county) 
know  that  I  hear  Governors  Nicholson  and  Blackiston 
intend  in  ten  days  for  Philadelphia ;  and  that  I  would 
have  him  wait  upon  them  with  a  good  number  of 
persons ;  that  he  summon  to  wait  at  the  borders  of 
the  county,  and  conduct  them  to  New  Castle,  and 
thence  till  he  meets  with  the  sheriff  of  Chester  county, 
to  whom  write  to  conduct  them  to  the  confines  of  his 
charge  or  county,  where  J.  Farmer  shall  attend  them. 
Let  at  least  twenty  persons  be  ordered  for  each  party  ; 
and  write  to  H.  Hollingsworth  to  help  the  sheriff  to 
manage  things.  The  magistrates  of  each  place  to 
give  their  attendance,  some  to  ride  out,  some  to  receive 
them  at  alighting.  If  needful,  prepare  a  draught  of  an 
order     or     letter    to    each    county,   and   send   it   me 


2/6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

forthwith,  as  also  to  lodge  them,  and  immediate  ser- 
vants, at  their  private  houses.  The  first  fair  day  I 
intend  down." 

By  his  orders  we  see  that  Penn  was  determined  to 
exhibit  to  these  Governors  due  respect,  more  than  we 
would  have  otherwise  expected.  They  accordingly  came 
on  to  Philadelphia,  but  were  both  taken  ill  on  the  way. 
Col.  Blackiston  so  much  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  return 
to  Maryland.  Col.  Nicholson,  though  very  weak 
with  the  fever,  came  on  to  New  York  accompanied  by 
Penn  and  Col.  Hamilton,  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  2 2d  and  remained  till  the 
4th  of  the  following  month,  when  urgent  business  re- 
quired the  Proprietary's  return,  more  particularly  in 
relation  to  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  on  the  14th. 


MEETING    OF    THE    ASSEMBLY.  2// 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

IMPORTANT    MEETING    OF   THE   ASSEMBLY    AT    NEW    CAS- 
TLE.  INTERCESSION   AND    SELF-SACRIFICE    FOR 

A    CONDEMNED   VESSEL. ABLE    RE- 
PLY TO  COLONEL  QUARRY. 

\October  and  November,  i/oo.'] 

On  the  ist  of  8th  month  or  October,  Penn  addressed 
a  letter  from  New  York  to  his  Secretary  James  Logan 
in  Philadelphia,  in  which  he  says,  "  Give  my  love  to 
Thomas  Story,  and  tell  him  that  I  hope  he  supplies 
my  absence  about  the  laws,  what  is  to  alter  or  repeal, 
and  that  assist  him  therein.  Colonel  Nicholson  has 
been  very  ill,  and  relapsed  once  or  twice,  which  truly 
are  of  great  importance  to  the  weal  of  America."  All 
laws  passed  here  were  carefully  revised  before  being 
sent  to  England,  and  where  they  would  have  still  to 
receive  the  royal  approbation  before  they  could  be  ef- 
fective. The  Editor  of  the  Penn  and  Logan  Corres- 
pondence (vol.  I,  p.  1 6),  states  that  Governor  Nicholson 
of  Virginia  was  at  this  time  "  Lieut.  Governor  of  New 
England  and  New  York; "  which  is  an  error  ;  besides 
we  are  not  aware  of  any  one  person  exercising  such 


2/8  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

extensive  territorial  jurisdiction.  The  date  of  the 
aforesaid  letter  is  also  incorrectly  given  as  9th  month 
in  Janney's  Life  of  Penn  (2d  ed.,  p.  434.) 

Respecting  the  visits  of  the  several  Governors  to 
New  York  and  their  business  at  this  time,  Lord  Bello- 
mont,  the  Governor,  thus  speaks  in  his  letter  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  dated  the  17th  of 
this  (8th  mo.  or  Oct.)  month. 

"  As  Col.  Nicholson  and  Col.  Blackiston  were  com- 
ing hither  they  were  both  taken  ill  on  the  way ;  Col. 
Blackiston  could  come  no  further  than  Philadelphia 
and  thence  returned  again  to  Maryland.  Col.  Nichol- 
son made  a  shift  to  get  hither,  but  was  very  weak  with 
his  fever.  He  came  here  the  2 2d  of  last  month, 
and  returned  the  i  ith  instant.  With  him  came  Mr. 
Penn  and  Col.  Hamilton  Governor  of  the  Jerseys. 
Col.  Nicholson,  Mr.  Penn  and  I,  had  some  discourse 
about  these  plantations  ;  the  heads  on  which  we  dis- 
coursed were  drawn  up  in  short  terms  by  Mr.  Penn. 
Col.  Nicholson's  indisposition  hindered  us  from  putting 
these  heads  into  better  form,  besides  too  Mr.  Penn  has 
forgot  to  take  notice  of  the  first  head  we  talked  of, 
namely  :  A  method  how  to  draw  the  remote  Indians 
over  to  us.  Mr.  Penn's  occasions  called  him  hence 
the  4th  instant,  and  Col.  Nicholson  seemed  to  think 
Col.  Blackiston's  presence  for  the  necessary  obser- 
vance of  your  Lordship's  orders,  and  doing  something 
which  might  answer  your  expectation  and  the  end  of 
our  meeting. 


MEETING    OF   THE    ASSEMBLY.  2/9 

"  We  have  determined  to  meet  next  spring  at  Phila- 
delphia. The  6th  and  7th  heads  or  articles  in  Mr. 
Penn's  paper,  Col.  Nicholson  and  I  declared  to  him 
were  not  pertinent  to  our  purpose,  the  first  of  which 
is  calculated  to  people  his  Proprietary  colony,  and 
the  next  is  already  ordered  as  he  has  stated  it,  by 
the  King's  commission  and  instructions  to  us,  that 
are  the  Governors  for  the  King.  I  shall  hereafter 
offer  some  things  to  your  Lordships  consideration 
upon  these  and  the  like  heads.  I  am  assured  from 
good  hands  that  the  profits  of  the  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia are  iJ"4,ooo  a  year,  and  those  of  the  Governor  of 
Maryland  ;^2,5CK>  a  year. 

•'  Col.  Nicholson  and  Mr.  Penn  endeavored  to  recon- 
cile the  parties  here,  and  took  pains  to  reconcile  me 
and  the  merchants.  I  told  them  I  had  no  advances  to 
make  unless  it  could  be  proved  I  had  governed  arbi- 
trarily and  oppressed  them  in  their  trade,  contrary  to 
law ;  that  for  my  part  I  was  in  charity  with  them  and 
all  the  world,  but  if  the  merchants  of  New  York  ex- 
pected to  be  reconciled  to  me,  upon  the  terms  of  my 
indulging  them  in  unlawful  trade  and  piracy  they 
should  find  themselves  still  mistaken,  for  I  would  be 
as  steady  as  a  rock  on  these  points." 

We  here  give  the  paper  to  which  the  P^arl  of  Bello- 
mont  alludes  and  is  called  "  Mr.  Penn's  Suggestions 
respecting  the  Plantations,"  and  indorsed  "  Heads  of 
several  things  proper  for  the  Plantations  to  be  recom- 
mended home  to  England."     Drawn  up  by  Mr.  Penn 


280  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  communicated  by  him  to  the  Earl  of  Bellomont 
and  Col.  Nicholson  at  their  meeting  at  New  York. 

1st.  We  are  humbly  of  opinion  for  the  more  easy 
and  certain  commerce  of  the  Northern  Colonies  of 
America  under  the  Crown  of  England ;  it  would  be 
convenient  that  there  would  be  one  standard  or  coin, 
or  that  money  were  of  the  same  value ;  for  in  Boston 
that  pieces  of  8  are  8s.,  6s.  go  in  New  York  for  6s. 
9d.,  in  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  ys.  8d.,  in  Maryland 
4s.  6d.,  Virginia  at  5s.  and  in  Carolina. 

2nd.  It  would  be  much  for  the  despatch  of  trade 
and  business,  if  a  mint  for  small  silver  to  the  value  of 
6d.  were  allowed  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  preven- 
tion of  clipping,  filing  as  well  as  wearing,  which  is 
very  troublesome. 

3rd.  For  the  encouragement  of  returns  it  would  be 
very  expedient  that  due  encouragement  were  given  for 
the  exportation  of  timber  from  hence  for  England  by 
an  impost  on  foreign  timber,  there  being  great  quan- 
tities and  good  for  shipping  in  these  parts. 

4th.  That  great  caution  should  be  observed  to  ad- 
just the  bounds  with  the  French  Commissioners  or  the 
loss  will  be  great  and  irreparable.  We  take  the  south 
side  of  the  River  and  Lakes  of  Canada  to  be  our 
just  and  reasonable  boundaries,  soil  and  trade  with  the 
Indians  being  much  concerned  therein. 

5th.  For  prevention  of  runaways  and  rovers  and 
fraudulent  debtors  coming  from  one  Province  to  an- 
other for  shelter,  that  it  were  recommended  to  all  these 


MEETING    OF   THE   ASSEMBLY.  28 1 

governments  to  make  a  law  with  the  same  restrictions 
and  penalties,  as  if  the  whole  were  one  government. 

6th.  Foreigners  coming  daily  of  divers  nations,  es- 
pecially Dutch,  Swedes,  and  French,  it  is  humbly 
offered  that  a  general  law  of  naturalization  pass  in 
England  that  such  foreigners  that  come  to  inhabit  in 
any  of  the  King's  Colonies  that  are  by  Act  of  Assem- 
bly declared  freeman  in  the  said  Province,  shall  enjoy 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  English  subjects,  except 
being  masters  or  commanders  of  vessels  and  ships  of 
trade. 

7th.  That  it  were  generally  signified  to  the  respec- 
tive governments  fgr  the  prevention  of  vexatious  and 
litigious  practices,  that  no  appeal  for  England  should 
be  admitted  under  the  real  value  of  ;^300. 

8th.  That  not  only  charges  in  apprehending  of  pi- 
rates but  a  proportion  of  the  prey  may  be  assigned  for 
such  as  shall  take  them,  for  the  encouragement  of  their 
apprehension. 

Like  Penn's  proposal  for  a  Union  of  the  American 
Colonies  in  1696,  contains  several  excellent  sugges- 
tions which  were  greatly  needed,  particularly  the  ist, 
2d,  5th,  6th  and  8th.  As  may  have  been  expected 
even  for  such  modest  and  reasonable  requests,  I  believe 
not  one  of  those  last-mentioned  heads  ever  received 
the  least  encouragement  from  the  home  government. 
The  most  important,  like  those  relating  to  the  Union 
of  the  Colonies,  were  left  quietly  to  slumber,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  that  even  then  they  foresaw  danger,  but 


282  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

which  should  yet  be  restrained  for  three-quarters  of  a 
century. 

The  Governor  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Council  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  loth,  after  which  they  met  with 
the  Assembly  at  New  Castle  on  the  14th  and  continued 
in  daily  session  there  to  the  end  of  the  month,  except- 
ing only  on  the  20th  and  21st.  On  the  i6th  Joseph 
Growdon,  accompanied  by  all  the  Representatives,  ap- 
peared before  the  Governor  and  Council  and  acquainted 
them  that  they  had  chosen  him  for  their  Speaker,  from 
which  office  he  now  desired  to  be  excused,  hoping  the 
Governor  would  order  the  Assembly  to  choose  a  more 
suitable  person.  The  Governor  said  that  what  the 
Assembly  had  now  done  fully  satisfied  him.  Then 
the  Speaker  desired  that  at  all  times  they  might  have 
access  to  the  Governor's  person  and  that  a  favorable 
construction  be  put  on  their  words  with  freedom  from 
arrests ;  which  the  Governor  granted  and  then  said  : 

"Friends,  The  calling  you  at  this  time  was  urgent ; 
you  know  we  want  a  Frame  of  Government  and  a  body 
of  Laws,  without  which  society  cannot  subsist.  I 
recommend  to  you  the  revisal  of  the  Laws  ;  which  to 
continue,  what  to  repeal,  what  to  alter,  what  to  explain, 
and  what  new  ones  to  make.  Secondly,  I  recommend 
to  you  the  settling  of  property,  Thirdly,  a  supply  for 
the  support  of  Government ;  and  I  recommend  to  you 
amity  and  concord  amongst  yourselves."  This  cer- 
tainly may  be  regarded  as  a  model  address  or  message 
to  the  Legislature  which  for  brevity  probably  has 
never  been  surpassed. 


SELF-SACRIFICE    FOR    A    CONDEMNED    VESSEL.     283 

In  his  letter  of  the  previous  month,  the  Governor 
makes  some  allusion  to  an  unfortunate  affair.  The 
ship  Providence  commanded  by  Captain  John  Lumley 
arrived  in  the  Province  with  a  cargo  without  having 
taken  out  the  requisite  papers,  which  according  to  the 
Admiralty  laws  forfeited  both  the  vessel  and  cargo. 
Under  the  circumstances  of  the  case  Penn  took  com- 
passion on  the  owners,  even  to  the  extent  of  some 
sacrifice,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  following  beautiful  and 
feeling  letter  addressed  to  them,  and  for  whom  it  will 
be  seen  he  used  every  effort  to  intercede.  Such  a 
transaction  as  this,  happening  too  before  his  arrival, 
what  infinite  credit  it  does  him !  even  at  a  time  when 
we  know  he  was  greatly  distressed  for  the  want  of 
money,  and  the  colony  had  refused  him  any  compen- 
sation. 

"  New  Castle,  Pensia,  1 8th,  8  ber,  1 700. 
"  Esteemed  Friends :  Expecting  before  this  Capt. 
Lumley  would  have  received  orders  from  you  about 
your  ship,  and  from  the  employers  about  the  cargo,  I 
have  hitherto  deferred  writing,  but  now  finding  you 
are  both  likely  to  suffer  by  your  neglect,  am  forced  to 
put  you  in  mind  of  the  ruinous  condition  of  your 
interests  in  them.  Through  that  unhappy  slip  of 
neglecting  the  Register,  both  ship  and  cargo  were 
condemned  before  my  arrival,  so  that  there  is  no 
remedy  here,  but  that  you  should  take  care  of  the 
Third  allotted  to  me  by  Law,  which  when  you  please 


284  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

to  give  orders  for  it,  remains  at  your  service,  and  to 
get  the  other  two-thirds  as  easy  as  you  can.  These  I 
have  prevailed  with  the  Judge  of  Admiralty  to  offer 
the  Captain  for  ;^200  this  country  money,  amounting 
to  about  ^130  sterling,  with  which  I  cannot  but  think 
it  will  be  your  interest  to  comply,  if  you  can  find  no 
other  means  to  relieve  yourselves  at  home.  The  third 
of  the  cargo  which  upon  division  was  sent  me  waits 
also  for  the  Merchants  orders,  for  I  intend  not  to  be 
concerned  with  any  part  of  it,  but  it  is  already  much 
damaged  and  delay  will  make  it  worse.  This  is  all  I 
can  serve  you  in  here,  and  if  you  can  do  no  better  for 
yourselves  there,  I  hope  you  will  kindly  accept  it  from 
your  loving  Friend. 

Wm.  Penn." 

On  this  matter  of  the  ship  Providence  he  further  ex- 
presses himself  in  a  letter  without  date  to  Charles 
Lawton,  Esq.,  in  England,  in  which  he  desires  him  "  to 
take  notice  of  the  inhibitions  that  come  from  the  High 
Court  about  Capt.  Lumley's  ship  and  goods,  seized 
here  and  condemned,  and  goods  appraised  and  disposed 
of  by  Col.  Quarry  the  Judge  and  Moore  the  Advocate, 
my  third  remaining  in  statu  quo,  denying  to  accept  of 
it,  as  thinking  it  a  barbarous  case,  the  inclosed  states 
it.  All  I  desire  is,  that  I  may  not  suffer  by  or  for  that 
which  I  had  rather  have  suffered  than  have  done  or 
been  concerned  in." 

To  Col.  Quarry,  Judge  of  the   Court  of  Admiralty 


ABLE  REPLY  TO  COLONEL  QUARRY.       28$ 

in  which  the  vessel  was  condemned,  he  addressed  from 
New  Castle  on  the  nth  of  9th  month,  quite  a  lengthy 
letter  still  further  interceding,  but  it  would  appear  from 
his  statement  to  Lawton  that  nothing  availed  and  that 
the  vessel  and  goods  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  unrelenting 
prosecutors,  except  what  his  generosity  saved  and  al- 
lotted them.  From  the  Logan  correspondence  we 
learn  that  the  Queen's  share  of  the  cargo  (being  also 
one-third)  amounted  to  £ig^.iy.o6}4,  Pennsylvania 
currency. 

The  Governor  returns  thanks  on  the  24th  in  a  letter 
from  New  Castle  to  Joseph  Cogsgarne  for  "kind  pres- 
ents of  fish,"  and  says,  "  for  which  I  must  own  myself 
indebted,  and  am  sorry  this  place  affords  nothing  at 
present  to  make  suitable  returns  with ;  but  anything  I 
can  oblige  thee  in  at  this  distance,  thou  mayst  assure 
thyself  of  one  ready  to  befriend  thy  interests." 

That  Penn  was  of  an  hospitable  turn  we  see  in  a 
letter  written  about  this  time  to  Logan,  in  which  he 
says,  "  Give  the  two  Bristol  captains  a  small  collation 
at  I.  Jones's  or  Robins'  or  where  thou  wilt,  as  neats 
tongue  or  the  like,  and  a  bottle  of  wine  on  my  account 
if  thou  seest  fit."  His  letters  frequently  mention  simi- 
lar instances  extended  to  others,  particularly  to  the 
Indians. 

The  Council  and  Assembly  continued  in  session  at 
New  Castle  from  the  ist  to  the  27th  of  November,  ex- 
cepting only  on  the  3rd,  loth,  17th,  and  24th  which 
were   Sundays.     We  believe   during  all  this  time  and 


286  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

since  the  14th  of  the  previous  month  the  Governor 
was  in  attendance.  On  the  last  day  he  caused  Joseph 
Growdon,  the  Speaker  on  behalf  of  the  Assembly,  to 
sign  all  the  Laws  passed  or  agreed  upon,  after  which 
he  ordered  the  great  seal  to  be  affixed  to  the  same. 
He  then  publicly  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Council 
and  Assembly  declared  the  same  to  be  the  Laws  of 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Territories  thereto 
belonging,  according  to  the  King's  letters  patent, 
granted  to  him  under  the  great  seal  of  England.  The 
Assembly  was  then  prorogued  to  the  ist  of  2d  month 
(April)  next,  but  he  said  he  would  not  call  them 
together  till  the  8th  month  came,  unless  through  great 
emergency. 

In  regard  to  this  session  the  author  of  the  Historical 
Review  of  Pennsylvania  (p.  38)  observes  that  "in 
October  following,  a  new  Assembly  was  summoned. 
Not  as  before  to  consist  of  thirty-six  Members,  but  of 
twenty-four ;  that  is  to  say,  four  instead  of  six  in  each 
county.  The  place  of  meeting  was  also  different :  for 
instead  of  assembling  as  usual  at  Philadelphia,  the 
Members  were  convened  to  New  Castle ;  perhaps  only 
to  gratify  the  inhabitants  of  the  Territories,  at  a  time 
when  extraordinary  demands  were  to  be  made  upon 
them  for  the  gratification  of  the  Proprietary- Governor. 
At  the  Qpening  of  this  .Assembly,  the  Governor  said, 
he  had  called  them  upon  urgent  occasions ;  that  they 
were  in  want  of  a  Frame  of  Government ;  a  body  of 
Laws ;  a  settlement  of  Property  ;  and  a  supply  for  the 


ABLE    REPLY    TO    COLONEL   QUARRY.  28/ 

support  of  Government.  Adding  that  he  would  give 
them  all  the  assistance  in  his  power.  With  the  body 
of  Laws  they  began,  and  made  considerable  progress 
in  the  work  ;  but  the  Frame  of  Government  again  met 
with  as  many  difficulties  as  before.  The  Conditions  of 
Union  between  the  Province  and  the  Territories,  in 
particular,  had  like  to  have  produced  an  immediate 
separation ;  and  the  dispute  which  arose  concerning 
equal  privileges  or  equal  voices  in  the  Representatives, 
could  be  no  otherwise  compromised  than  by  referring 
the  issue  to  the  next  General  Assembly."  At  page  6 
remarks  that  "  This  Charter  of  Privileges  for  the 
Province,  being  the  present  Frame  of  Government 
passed  Oct.  28,  1701,  being  the  third.  The  first 
Frame  of  Government  for  the  Province  was  made  in 
England,  April  25,  1682.  The  next  Frame  of  Gov- 
ernment (the  second)  was  passed  April  2,  1683,  making 
three  in  less  than  twenty  years."  It  appears  by  this 
that  the  Frame  of  Government  here  agreed  upon  was 
still  in  force  in  1759,  when  said  work  was  published, 
and  so  we  may  justly  conclude  was  retained  till  the 
Revolution,  when  it  was  set  aside  for  a  new  constitution 
independent  of  both  the  Proprietary  and  Royal  govern- 
ments. 

As  from  what  has  been  stated,  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  proceedings  here  of  the  Governor,  Council  and 
Assembly  were  unusually  important,  which  deserve 
some  further  consideration.  Isaac  Norris,  in  a  letter  to 
Daniel  Zachary  dated  8th  of  loth  month,  1700,  thus 


288  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

speaks  on  the  subject :  "  I  am  at  length  got  home  from 
wearisome  New  Castle,  after  near  seven  weeks'  session, 
much  teasing,  but  in  short,  we  brought  it  to  a  pretty 
good  conclusion.  We  compiled  out  of  the  old,  and 
formed  some  new — in  all  about  ninety  laws  in  a  body, 
as  far  as  our  capacities  and  general  heads  would  admit. 
And  for  a  closing  stroke  gave  the  Governor  two  thou- 
sand pounds,  at  which  our  malcontents  are  not  well 
pleased,  and  some,  I  hear,  endeavor  to  withstand  pay- 
ing." 

Among  the  decided  opponents  to  the  Governor's 
measures  was  Col.  Robert  Quarry,  who,  in  the  sixth 
charge  of  his  "  Abstract  of  Several  Informations  relat- 
ing to  Irregular  Proceedings  and  other  undue  practices 
in  Pennsylvania,"  states  that  "  Mr.  Penn  prevailed  with 
the  Assembly,  at  one  sitting,  to  make  a  present  to  him 
of  two  thousand  pounds  per  annum  and  upwards,  in 
taxes.  The  expense  of  their  several  sittings  whilst  he 
was  there,  amounts  to  above  six  hundred  pounds." 

This  brought  out  a  reply  entitled,  "  Answers  to  the 
Abstract  of  Complaints  against  Proceedings  in  Penn- 
sylvania by  Wm.  Penn."  To  the  sixth  charge  the 
Governor  ably  answers,  that  "  I  acknowledge  the  two 
thousand  pound  money  (which  makes  not  twelve  hun- 
dred pounds  English) ;  but  his  one  thousand  pounds  is 
not  abovp  seven  hundred  pounds  that  money,  nor  five 
hundred  pounds  this,  and  nearly  expired.  But  is  that 
such  a  recompence,  when  five  times  the  sum  is  less 
than  my  due ;    having  not  had  for  twenty  years  one 


AHLE  REPLY  TO  COLONEL  QUARRY.       289 

farthing,  but  maintained  the  deputy  Governor  at  my 
own  charges.  And  yet  more  than  half  of  what  they 
gave  me  i.s  yet  unpaid,  and  if  Colonel  Quarry  and  his 
factious  adherents  can  obstruct  it,  will  never  be  paid 
me.  Whereas  had  the  law  of  imposts,  given  me  in 
1683,  been  received,  it  had  been  twenty  thousand 
pounds  and  more,  money  in  my  way ;  and  which  was 
only  by  me  waived  for  a  few  years  in  our  infancy,  upon 
promi.ses  never  {performed  to  me." 

The  following  letter  addre.ssed  to  his  cousin  Robert 
Asheton,  Sheriff  of  Philadelphia,  is  calculated  to  show 
the  liberal  and  kindly  spirit  that  actuated  the  benevo- 
lent founder,  and  does  him  credit  as  a  Christian.  It  is 
supposed  to  allude  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  P>ans  of  Christ 
Church  who  arrived  about  this  time,  and  continued  in 
charge  till  1718. 

"New  Castle,  ist,  pber,  1700. 
"  R.  Asheton.  The  new  minister  sent  over  from  Phila- 
delphia, has  been  with  me,  and  appears  a  man,  sober, 
and  of  a  mild  disposition,  that  may  be  prevailed  with 
to  be  easy.  I  must  therefore  desire  thee  to  use  all 
early  methods  by  thyself,  and  such  others  of  your 
Church  as  are  for  peace,  and  a  friendly  understanding 
to  make  impressions  on  his  mind  for  the  best  and  by 
all  seasonable  means,  endeavor  to  dispose  him  to  an 
easiness  of  mind  and  good  inclination  to  the  public, 
and  the  people  in  general  he  is  now  to  live  amongst. 

19 


290.  VVM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Assuring  him  that  while  he  behaves  himself  with  can- 
dor and  ingenuity,  he  shall  want  no  good  will  from, 
nor  kindness  that  I  can  shew  him,  and  that  he  may 
expect  as  much  favor  in  all  reasonable  things,  as  he 
could  from  any  Governor  of  his  own  way.  Thy  care 
in  this  I  hope  I  may  depend  on  having  assurance  of 
thy  good  inclinations  to  the  peace  of  the  public,  and 
that  thou  art  sensible  one  of  the  greatest  advantages 
to  be  reaped  from  religion  is  a  quiet  easy  mind,  which 
as  it  is  inwardly  enjoyed,  will  show  itself  no  less  in  all 
exterior  things.  As  thou  findst  occasion  a  line  from 
thee  on  this  head  would  be  acceptable  to  him  that  is 
with  kind  love  to  thyself  and  family  thy  assured 
friend  and  affectionate  kinsman.  W.  P." 

On  the  6th  the  Governor  addressed  a  letter  from 
New  Castle  to  Governor  Blackiston,  in  which  he  hu- 
morously says,  that  "  By  this  time  Governor  Nicholson 
has  at  large  informed  thee  of  all  who  surprised  me  at 
New  Castle,  when  I  thought  him  upon  the  coasts  of 
Virginia.  I  see  one  must  be  upon  one's  guard  with 
soldiers,  that  understand  so  well,  beating  up  their 
neighbor's  quarters. 

*'  I  am  to  complain  of  one  Capt.  Barford,  who  has 
exceeded  all  bounds.  He  has  not  only  without  the 
consent  of  passengers  or  stress  of  weather,  altered  his 
port,  and  injured  his  passengers  extremely  by  it,  but 
forced  servants  bound  by  indenture  to  serve  here,  to 
serve   in   Maryland,  and  by  such  threats   of  treatment 


ABLE    REPLY   TO    COLONEL   QUARRY.  29 1 

as  hardly  have  example.  I  do  in  the  name  of  our  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  laws  of  our  Province,  as  well  as  in 
behalf  of  the  said  servants,  beg  of  Governor  Blackiston 
an  examination  of  this  affair,  for  example  sake,  and 
that  we  may  have  justice  against  the  said  Capt.  Bar- 
ford,  at  least  as  far  as  relates  to  the  servants,  leaving 
the  rest  to  the  undertakers  at  home  to  consider  of" 

Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Assembly 
at  New  Castle,  Penn  returned  to  Pennsbury,  and  very 
probably  from  over  exertion  and  exposure  from  its 
long  sitting  of  six  weeks,  became  quite  unwell.  In  a 
letter  addressed  to  James  Logan  near  the  close  of  this 
month  his  wife  thus  alludes  to  his  condition  and  of 
some  other  matters  : 

"  My  husband  has  been,  for  some  time,  especially 
the  two  days  past,  much  indisposed  with  a  feverish 
cold  ;  his  sweating,  last  night  relieved  him,  but  not  so 
as  to  be  capable  of  going  to  town  without  great  hazard 
of  his  health,  which  has  prevailed  with  him  to  stay  till 
to-morrow,  when,  if  better,  he  intends  not  to  fail  of 
being  in  town  ;  wherefore  he  would  have  the  Council 
to  adjourn,  from  day  to  day,  till  they  see  him.  Also, 
would  have  thee  tell  Thomas  Story  to  read  over  the 
laws  carefully,  and  observe  their  shortness  and  other 
defects,  with  memoranda  of  directions,  especially  those 
about  courts  of  justice,  marriage,  law  of  property,  un- 
reasonable alienation  of  fines,  &c.,  and  what  time  thou 
canst  spare  he  would  have  thee  employed  on  the  same 
subject." 


292  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE     PROPRIETARY    OFFICIALS     GIVEN     TO    LAND    SPECU- 
LATIONS.  COURTS    OF    INQUIRY    ESTABLISHED. 

PAMPHLETS    PRINTED    AND    CIRCU- 
LATED   IN    GERMANY    TO  PRO- 
MOTE   EMIGRATION. 

\December — February,  lyoo.'] 

From  Penn's  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  written 
on  the  8th  of  lOth  month,  1700,  we  learn  that  he  had 
proposed  but  five  days  stay  at  New  York,  but  instead 
remained  there  from  the  2 2d  of  7th  to  the  4th  of  the 
following  month,  some  twelve  days,  which  caused  him 
to  leave  in  such  haste,  on  account  of  the  Assembly 
meeting  soon  after,  that  he  could  not  bring  along  with 
him  a  copy  of  his  "Suggestions  respecting  the  Planta- 
tions," and  in  consequence  left  the  original  with  Lord 
Bellomont.  However  he  refers  to  it  at  some  length, 
and  amongst  other  matters  observes,  "  That  a  stricter 
method  also  were  recommended  to  ye  respective  colo- 
nies about  Marriage,  it  too  often  falling  out  that  one 
man  has  two  wives  and  one  woman  two  husbands,  in 


LAND    SPECULATIONS.  293 

which  give  me  leave  without  vanity  to  desire  your  pe- 
rusal of  our  law  that  comes  by  next  opportunity,  for 
the  great  scandal  that  lies  upon  the  American  colonies 
alls  for  a  reformation  in  this  particular  with  some  ex- 
pedition. That  a  general  Post  were  settled  not  only 
here,  v/hich  in  measure  is  done,  but  that  there 
were  two  or  three  little  post  vessels  by  the  King  ap- 
pointed to  bring  and  carry  letters,  at  those  seasons  es- 
f)ecially  when  greater  ships  cannot  or  do  not  so  usually 
come  or  go,  for  the  benefit  of  trade  and  private  con- 
veniences as  well  as  more  public  affairs  of  the  Crown." 
The  aforesaid  "  Suggestions  "  have  been  given  in  the 
previous  chapter. 

On  the  9th  the  Governor  addressed  a  letter  to  Lord 
Bellomont,  chiefly  on  the  subject  of  piracy,  and  con- 
cludes by  saying,  "  My  wife  and  daughter  with  myself 
beg  the  acceptance  of  our  best  wishes  to  Lord  and 
Lady  Bellomont."  On  the  same  day  he  also  addressed 
from  Philadelphia  a  long  letter  to  the  Commissioners 
of  Customs  in  London,  from  which  we  select  the  fol- 
lowing extracts : 

"  In  my  last,  mentioning  the  business  of  M.  Birch, 
the  Collector  of  New  Castle,  and  James  Menzies,  I 
promised  to  make  a  full  inquiry  into  that  affair,  with 
an  intention  to  bring  it  to  a  second  trial.  In  pursuance 
of  which  I  omitted  nothing  that  might  have  the  least 
tendency  to  clear  it.  But  the  subject  will  scarce,  I 
doubt  deserve  any  further  words  :  Birch  himself  is 
dead,  and  the  two  pirates  in  the  boat,  who  were  then 


294  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

out  of  prison  upon  bail,  taken,  are  executed,  as  we  hear 
by  the  last  news  from  New  York,  and  nothing  could 
be  proved  against  Menzies  the  only  person  of  the 
company  surviving,  otherwise  he  would  have  suffered 
smartly  for  it. 

"  The  Collector  deceasing  about  six  weeks  ago,  I 
thought  myself  obliged  least  the  King's  affairs  should 
suffer,  to  appoint  one  in  his  place  till  your  pleasure 
were  known,  his  name  is  Joseph  Wood,  a  sober  man 
of  a  good  reputation,  faithful  I  believe,  and  understand- 
ing, he  has  been  sheriff  of  that  county  for  some  con- 
siderable time,  and  will  serve  the  best  of  any  I  could 
find,  till  you  please  either  to  dispose  of  it  otherwise,  or 
if  you  think  fit  to  confirm  it.  My  longer  stay  at  New 
York  with  Lord  Bellomont  and  Governor  Nicholson, 
than  was  expected,  occasioned  me  to  slip  the  oppor- 
tunity in  September  last,  I  designed  to  send  by.  Be- 
cause so  many  complaints  have  been  against  us  upon 
the  account  of  Trade,  I  resolved  to  keep  that  important 
office  in  my  own  hands  till  I  had  time  to  look  about 
me  and  consider  of  a  person  fit  for  the  trust. 

"  I  have  only  this  to  request  that  among  other  in- 
structions that  you  may  think  requisite  for  our  better 
conduct,  you  would  be  pleased  to  give  some  directions 
about  the  Curasao  Trade.  They  go  from  hence  with 
provisions  only,  and  pretend  to  bring  back  nothing 
but  money,  but  that  trade  affords  so  many  temptations 
for  importing  valuable  Dutch  goods,  that  I  know  not 
how  to  be   sufficiently  secure   in  it,  considering  the 


LAND   SPECULATIONS.  295 

length  of  our  river.  But  your  advice  if  you  please 
favour  us  with  it,  will  clear  all." 

Meetings  with  the  Council  were  held  by  the  Gover- 
nor in  Philadelphia  on  the  i8th  and  19th,  which  I 
believe  were  the  only  ones  held  during  the  month.  On 
the  31st  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Gov.  Nicholson  of 
Virginia  in  which  he  states,  "  I  was  troubled  to  hear 
Col.  Quarry's  ill  account  of  thy  health  after  leaving  us 
so  well  and  brisk.  Thou  must  excuse  my  solicitous- 
ness  for  thy  recovery  and  that  I  therefore  recommend 
an  infusion  of  wormwood,  centuary,  agri money  and 
chamomile  flowers  in  good  spring  water,  at  least  the 
three  first.  Put  them  in  water  hot,  and  drink  it  as  tea 
and  also  cold  instead  of  other  drink  at  meals  or  with- 
out wine,  and  moderate  the  bitterness  as  it  may  be 
grateful  especially  at  meals.  It  is  a  course  I  am  falling 
into  for  prevention,  for  it  fortifies  the  stomach  and 
sweetens  the  blood."  And  adds  by  way  of  postscript, 
"  Pray  is  poor  Jack  the  Indian  got  home.  I  clothed 
him  and  sent  him  from  New  Castle  two  months  and 
more,  since  as  I  suppose,  and  letters  by  him  to  thyself 
and  Governor  Blackiston." 

From  the  first  book  of  Marriage  Records  in  Phila- 
delphia Monthly  Meeting,  we  learn  that  on  the  31st  of 
ipth  month,  William  Powell,  a  cooper  of  Philadelphia 
and  son  of  William,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Kelley, 
of  the  same  place  in  the  meeting  house.  Among 
those  present  as  witnesses  on  this  occasion  we  find  the 
names  of  William   Powell,  Sr.,  John   Powell,  William 


296  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Kelley,  Thomas  Shute,  Joseph  Estlacke,  Ann  Powell, 
Hannah  Penn  and  thirty-four  others. 

In  his  correspondence,  Penn  frequently  alludes  to 
the  dishonesty  of  some  of  the  officials  of  his  day,  and 
of  those  holding  positions  under  him,  so  we  must  not 
conclude  that  official  corruption  is  altogether  of  modern 
date.  It  is  known  that  at  least  a  few  who  came  with 
but  little  to  this  country  and  held  positions  became 
eventually  owners  of  great  tracts  of  lands,  and  in  some 
cases  extensive  speculators  therein  and  thus  became 
wealthy.  The  foundations  of  several  prominent  fami- 
lies were  laid  in  this  manner,  and  to  this  class  Penn 
gives  hints,  as  we  have  no  evidence  of  their  assisting 
him  in  his  pecuniary  distresses,  while  they  aimed  at 
self-aggrandizement  and  making  the  most  out  of  him. 
We  will  give  first  the  following  extracts  from  the  His- 
tory of  New  Sweden  (Phila.  ed.  of  1874,  pp.  125-7)  by 
the  Rev.  Israel  Acrelius  : 

"On  the  14th  of  June,  1683,  Proprietor  Penn,  under 
his  own  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  Province,  issued  an 
order  to  all'  the  old  inhabitants  of  the  Province,  who 
had  not  yet  received  deeds  for  their  lands,  but 
only  the  Surveyor's  certificates  to  make  their  surveys, 
according  to  orders  from  the  Governor  of  New  York, 
to  send  in  these  certificates,  and  take  out  deeds  for  the 
same.  Also,  that  those  who  had  deeds  from  the  Duke 
of  York  should  present  themselves,  and  hand  in  their 
old  deeds.  The  good  and  simple  people',  who  did  not 
know  what  that  meant,  generally  handed  in  their  cer- 


COURTS    OF    INQUIRY    ESTABLISHED.  297 

tificates  and  deeds.  Immediately  thereupon  Penn  di- 
rected his  Assembly  to  enact  a  law  that  old  home- 
steads or  farms  should  be  resurveyed,  and  then  large 
lots  were  found  in  excess  of  what  the  deeds  covered, 
as  they  were  not  so  particular  about  land  in  former 
times. 

"  Upon  the  river  and  creeks  there  were  large  tracts 
of  swamp-lands  which  stood  under  water  at  flood-tide, 
but  were  dry  at  the  ebb,  and  were  useful  for  pasturage 
of  cattle,  but  were  not  formerly  embraced  in  the  deeds. 
Some  thousands  of  acres  were,  therefore,  at  this  time, 
taken  away  from  those  who  had  hitherto  possessed 
them,  and  sold  to  others,  notwithstanding  it  was  fixed 
by  law  that  seven  years  of  undisputed  possession 
should  •  give  a  clear  title.  Those  who  had  given  in 
their  certificates  and  deeds  never  received  them  back 
again,  and  when  they  took  out  new  ones  were  laid 
under  three  or  four  fold  rents.  Those  who  did  not 
pay  of  their  own  accord  were  sued.  But  those  who 
did  not  giv^e  up  their  old  deeds,  both  held  what  they 
had  and  were  exempt  from  increased  rents.  Finally 
these  complaints  burst  forth  in  a  petition  to  the  As- 
sembly in  the  year  1 709,  with  the  request  that  James 
Logan  might  be  empowered  to  restore  to  them  their 
old  deeds,  together  with  the  excess  of  rents  which  he 
had  wrongfully  taken." 

While  in  this  country  Penn  established  by  his  own 
authority  in  the  several  counties  "  Courts  of  Inquiry," 
selecting  for  its  officers,  persons  to  act  under  an  official 


298  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

sanction  for  his  own  particular  benefit  This  is  best 
explained  by  the  following,  copied  from  the  original 
commission  which  he  issued  for  establishing  the  same 
in  Bucks  county.  To  our  knowledge  we  find  used 
herein  by  him  for  the  first  time  the  word  "  absolute  " 
which  in  the  charter  granted  to  the  Borough  of  Ches- 
ter was  extended  to  "  true  and  absolute."* 

"  William  Fenn,  absolute  Proprietary  and  Governor 
in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  Terri- 
tories thereunto  belonging. 

"To  my  trusty  and  well  beloved  friends  Phineas 
Pemberton,  William  Biles,  and  Richard  Hough — send- 
eth  greeting  : — 

"  For  the  complete  settling  and  establishing  of  Af- 
fairs of  Property  within  the  County  of  Bucks  'in  this 
Province  of  Pennsylvania.  Know  ye  That  I  have  con- 
stituted and  appointed  you,  and  do  hereby  appoint  and 
commission  you  the  said  Phineas  Pemberton,  William 
Biles,  and  Richard  Hough,  or  any  two  of  you  to  hold 
a  Court  of  Inquiry,  for  examining,  searching  and  in- 
quiring into  the  rights,  titles  and  claims  of  all  and  sin- 
gular the  Freeholders  or  Inhabitants  of  the  said  County, 
to  any  Lands,  Tenements,  Hereditaments  within  the 
same,  at  such  times  and  places  in  the  said  county  as  to 
you  shall  seem  most  convenient,  Hereby  granting 
unto  you  full  power  and  authority  by  your  Order  or 
Warrant  under  the  hand  of  any  two  of  you  to  summon 
or  cause  to  be  summoned  all  persons  concerned  to  ap- 

*  Also  see  Chapter  XXXIII. 


COURTS   OF    INQUIRY    ESTABLISHED.  299 

pear  before  you  in  the  said  Court,  as  you  shall  ap- 
point ;  to  produce  all  Grants,  Letters  Patent,  Convey- 
ances, Records,  and  all  other  Papers  and  Writings  as 
you  shall  see  cause,  that  in  any  wise  relate  to  Their 
Titles  or  Claims  as  aforesaid.  Also  to  commend  and 
require  all  needful  Officers,  especially  the  Constables 
of  the  said  County,  to  attend  to  your  service,  as  there 
shall  be  occasion,  who  are  hereby  required  and  com- 
manded to  obey  all  your  Orders,  respectively  herein. 
I  do  also  hereby  further  empower  you  the  said  Phineas 
Pemberton,  William  Biles,  and  Richard  Hough,  or  any 
two  of  you,  fully  to  inquire  into  the  State  of  my  Quit- 
rents  in  the  said  County  and  diligently  to  examine 
what  part  of  the  said  Rents  have  been  paid,  and  to 
whom,  and  what  remaineth  behind  unpaid,  and  to  take 
and  keep  an  exact  account  thereof  Also  carefully  to 
inquire  into  all  Escheats,  Fines  and  Forfeitures,  that 
are  fallen  to  me  or  become  my  due  in  said  county. 
And  of  all  your  Proceedings  in  pursuance  of  this 
Commission  make  a  due  and  faithful  Report  to  me 
fairly  in  writing  under  your  hands  to  the  end  that  the 
State  of  Property  in  the  said  County  being  particularly 
known,  the  respective  Inhabitants  and  Freeholders  may 
be  the  more  effectually  settled  and  confirmed  in  all  their 
just  titles  and  claims  to  lands  therein.  Given  under 
my  Hand  and  the  great  Seal  of  the  Province,  at  Phila- 
delphia, the  Eighteenth  of  the  Tenth  Month,  1 700. 

Wm.  Penn." 


300  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

As  might  have  been  expected  the  exercising  of  such 
authority  so  liable  to  gross  abuse  caused  some  excite- 
ment A  petition  was  gotten  up  in  consequence  by 
some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia,  and  addressed 
to  the  Assembly  the  following  September,  from  which 
we  take  several  extracts: 

"  The  following  particulars  are  humbly  tendered  to 
your  serious  consideration,  and  that  they  may  have 
due  weight  with  you  is  the  earnest  desires  of  us  the 
subscribers,  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  other  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Government. 

•*  2ndly.  That  before  the  Proprietor  go  for  England, 
he  grant  us  such  an  Instrument  as  may  absolutely 
secure  us  in  our  Estates  and  Properties  from  himself, 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  or  any  claiming  from 
under  him,  or  any  of  them,  as  also  to  clear  all  Indian 
Purchases. 

"iithly.  That  whereas  the  Proprietor  hath  been 
prevailed  on  to  erect  a  Court,  called  by  some  a  Court 
of  Inquiry,  before  which  divers  of  the  inhabitants 
were  summoned,  and  ordered  to  appear  to  show  the 
Titles  of  their  Lands  contrary  to  their  rights  and  privi- 
liges  as  Freeborn  English  subjects,  and  not  warranted 
by  any  Law,  Custom  or  Usage  of  this  Province,  as  we 
know  of,  you  would  be  pleased  to  represent  the  same 
as  a  great  Aggrievance,  and  endeavor,  that  no  such 
thing  be  allowed  for  the  future. 

"  Also  that  such  Person  or  Persons  as  advised  him 
to   erect  the   said   Court  receive  such  reprehension  or 


COURTS    OF    INQUIRY    ESTABLISHED.  3OI 

Other  prosecution  for  such  their  ill  advice,  as  you 
shall  think  fit.  And  further  that  you  would  please  make 
enquiry  by  what  Authority  persons  have  been  sent  for 
by  warrants  and  mandates,  signed  and  alleged  by  the 
Governor's  order,  to  his  great  dishonor  and  the  in- 
fringement of  the  Subject's  Liberty,  and  that  any 
officers  signing  such  Warrants  or  Mandates,  may  be 
examined  and  receive  such  reproof  for  the  same,  as 
may  deter  him  or  them  from  such  practices  for  the 
future." 

This  petition  was  dated  "  Philadelphia,  ye  1 7th  of 
7th  mo.,  1 701,"  nearly  seven  weeks  before  the  Pro- 
prietary's departure,  and  signed  by  sixty-nine  persons. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  Griffith  Jones, 
Thomas  Paschall,  Joshua  Carpenter,  Francis  Rawle, 
John  Kensy,  William  Hudson,  Thomas  Wharton, 
William  Powell,  Charles  Read,  William  Coleman, 
Joseph  Wilcox,  Benjamin  Wright,  Nehemiah  Allen, 
Thomas  Masters  and  Thomas  Coates.  None  of  said 
signers,  we  believe,  ever  held  any  positions  under  the 
Proprietary  government  and  could  therefore  be  free  in 
the  expression  of  their  sentiments.  It  may  be  seen  in 
full  at  pp.  275-7  of  vol.  VI.  (for  1853)  of  the  Collec- 
tions of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

A  committee  of  the  Assembly  the  following  day 
agreed  that  the  2d  article  was  "  needful  to  be  obtained," 
and  the  1 1  th  "  be  laid  before  the  General  Assembly, 
in  order  to  have  such  persons  sent  for  as  shall  be 
supposed    delinquents    therein."     It    was   also  further 


302  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

agreed  that  the  said  petition  "  be  fairly  drawn  over  and 
presented  to  the  Proprietor  for  his  perusal  and  con- 
sideration, to  the  several  particulars  therein  men- 
tioned." This  result  was  quite  unexpected  to  Penn  if 
we  are  to  judge  by  the  letter  from  Isaac  Norris  to 
Daniel  .Zachary  on  the  3d  of  8th  month  following, 
wherein  he  says,  "  Our  Governor  highly  resents  an 
address  made  to  the  Assembly  and  from  them  recom- 
mended to  him."  I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain 
anything  further  about  this  **  Court,"  which  the  Pro- 
prietary from  its  unpopularity  may  have  shortly  after 
let  drop,  or  was  compelled  to  abandon  for  the  want  of 
creditable  officers  willing  to  serve  thereon. 

In  regard  to  the  land  speculators  of  this  day,  it 
appears  for  instance  by  the  records  that  immediately 
after  the  Proprietary  had  left  the  Province,  some  of  his 
officials  took  up  in  great  tracts  some  of  the  best  lands 
in  the  central  parts  of  Bucks  county,  and  retailing 
them  to  actual  settlers,  I  mean  between  the  years  1701 
and  171 8,  and  of  which  no  evidence  exists  of  the 
Indian  title  having  been  previously  extinguished,  and 
which  is  confirmed  by  subsequent  purchases  from 
them.*  Again  there  was  another  great  trouble  about 
the  surveys.  From  the  beginning  the  Surveyors  with 
their  deputies  held  their  positions  direct  from  the 
Proprietary,  and  after  several  years  settlement  and  con- 
siderable lands  had  been  sold  the  Governor  ordered  his 
officials    to    make    resurveys,  and  where  the  quantity 

*  See  History  of  the  Indian  Walk,  Chapters  II.  and  III. 


COURTS    OF    INQUIRY    ESTABLISHED.  3O3 

proved  to  be  over  that  mentioned  in  the  grant  to  be 
his.  There  was  no  alternative  with  the  purchasers  or 
holders  than  to  go  by  his  surveyors,  whether  the 
amount  was  more  or  less  than  was  called  for,  and  if  in 
consequence  unfairness  was  practiced  in  the  measure- 
ment was  not  their  faults.  We  will  take  for  instance 
the  manor  of  Moreland,  surveyed  to  Nicholas  More, 
in  1684,  for  9,815  acres.  After  his  death  the  Pro- 
prietary's Commissioners  of  Property,  by  a  warrant 
dated  the  loth  of  5th  month,  1689,  directed  Thomas 
Fairman  to  make  a  resurvey  of  the  same.  He  re- 
ported an  overplus  of  five  hundred  acres,  which  was 
laid  off  on  its  upper  part,  and  was  afterwards  purchased 
from  the  Proprietary  in  two  tracts,  one  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  by  said  Fairman,  and  the  other  by  Anna 
Salters.  The  records  of  this  time  prove  numerous 
similar  instances. 

We  can  find  nothing  of  interest  whatever  relating  to 
Penn  that  transpired  during  I  ith  month  or  January. 
Perhaps  like  nature,  now  taking  a  rest  after  long  and 
continuous  exertions  for  the  general  good.  William 
Penn,  Jr.,  under  date  of  "Worminghurst,  Feb.  i  ith, 
1700,"  addressed  a  letter  "  For  James  Logan,  Secretary 
to  His  Excellency  in  Philadelphia,"  in  which  he  men- 
tions that  "  I  am  now  to  tell  thee  that  yesterday,  at 
half  past  eight  in  the  morning,  to  a  minute,  my  wife 
was  brought  to  bed  of  a  brave  boy."  This  was  his 
eldest  son  Springett,  who  died  at  London  in  i  'j6'j. 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia, 


304  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

on  the  14th,  15th  and  1 8th,  at  all  of  which  the 
Governor  was  present  On  the  15th  representation 
was  made  that  the  law  against  strangers  travelling 
without  passes  and  obliging  the  innkeepers  to  give 
notice  to  some  magistrate  of  such  coming  to  lodge  at 
their  houses  has  been  much  neglected,  and  seldom  put 
in  practice.  It  was  in  consequence  ordered  that  a 
proclamation  be  issued  requiring  all  persons  to  observe 
said  laws,  and  have  them  more  effectually  put  in 
execution. 

During  this  year  (1700)  several  pamphlets  were 
published  in  the  German  language  by  Andrew  Otto, 
bookseller  at  Frankfort  and  Leipzig,  to  encourage 
emigration  to  Pennsylvania.  One  was  called  "  Cur- 
iesuse  Nachricht  von  Pensylvania  in  Norden  America," 
by  Daniel  Falkner,  who  styles  himself  "Professor, 
Citizen  and  Pilgrim  there."  It  contains  58  octavo 
pages,  and  in  it  he  states  that  he  had  arrived  here  in 
1700,  and  settled  at  Germantown,  where  he  was  made 
a  Bailiff  He  was  one  of  the  agents  or  attorneys  for 
the  Frankfort  Land  Company.  Falkner's  Swamp  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  present  Montgomery  county  was 
called  after  him.  Francis  Daniel  Pastorius'  Description 
of  Pennsylvania,  of  120  pages,  also  appeared  at  this 
time  of  which  we  have  spoken  in  Chapter  XL  Penn's 
Description  written  in  1683  appeared  in  14  pages,  and 
Thomas  Paschall's  in  3  pages.  Gabriel  Thomas' 
Account  of  the  Province  appeared  in  1702  in  40  pages, 
with  a  map  which   strange  to  say  gives  the  Schuylkill 


PAMPHLETS    TO    PROMOTE    EMIGRATION.  305 

river  on  it  pretty  correctly  for  fifty  miles  from  its 
mouth,  also  the  Neshaminy,  Perkiomen  and  Manatawny 
creeks  with  all  their  principal  branches.  Pennsbury 
is  marked  on  it  also  Newtown,  and  Bridlington  for  Bur- 
lington, but  not  Bristol.  Of  course  the  last  three 
pamphlets  had  been  translated  for  the  purpose. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Land  Company  there  these 
five  works  were  extensively  circulated,  and  no  doubt 
done  much  afterwards  to  encourage  emigration  hither. 
An  antiquarian  friend,*  several  years  ago,  secured 
copies  of  all  the  aforesaid  while  traveling  in  Germany, 
to  which  he  has  kindly  let  the  author  have  access  and 
make  translations.  It  is  probable  that  collectively 
these  have  never  been  noticed  before  in  any  work 
relating  either  to  Penn  or  his  colony.  Thus  the  ma- 
terials for  history  are  brought  together  more  and 
more,  additions  made,  and  obscure  matters  solved. 


♦  The  late  Joseph  J.  Mickley,  of  Philadelphia. 


20 


306  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  BEAUTIFUL  LETTER  SENT  TO  THE  COUNTESS  OF  BELLO- 
MONT,  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  HER  HUSBAND. AD- 
DITIONAL TREATY  WITH  THE  SUSQUEHANNA 

INDIANS. A  SECOND  CHARGE 

OF  WITCHCRAFT. 

\_Marck-May,  i/oi.] 

We  have  now  arrived,  according  to  old  style,  to  the 
first  month  of  the  year,  1701.  Judging  by  his  corres- 
pondence and  otherwise,  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
that  Penn,  with  his  family,  spent  the  winter,  or  the 
severe  season,  in  Philadelphia,  which  appears  to  have 
been  his  practice.  Several  circumstances  would  direct 
to  this  :  the  roads  at  times  being  impassable  from 
snows  and  thaws,  and  the  river  from  ice  and  storms. 
A  meeting  of  Council  was  held  in  town  by  the  Gov- 
ernor on  the  5  th,  and  probably  the  only  one  during  the 
month. 

Isaac  Norris,  an  eminent  merchant  of  Philadelphia 
and  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  the  Proprietary's,  in  a 
letter  to  his  friend  Jeffry  Pennell,  dated  the  6th  of  this 
month,  gives   the  following  interesting  account  of  the 


LETTER    SENT    TO    COUNTESS    OF    BELLOMONT.     307 

family :  "  The  Governor,  wife,  and  daughter  well. 
Their  little  son  is  a  comely,  lovely  babe,  and  has  much 
of  his  father's  grace  and  air,  and  hope  he  will  not  want 
a  good  portion  of  his  mother's  sweetness,  who  is  a 
woman  extremely  well  beloved  here,  exemplary  in  her 
station,  and  of  an  excellent  spirit,  which  adds  lustre  to 
her  character,  and  has  a  great  place  in  the  hearts  of 
good  people.  The  Governor  is  our  Pater  Patrice,  and 
his  worth  is  no  new  thing  to  us  ;  we  value  him  highly, 
and  hope  his  life  will  be  preserved  till  all  things  now 
on  the  wheel  are  settled  here  to  his  peace  and  com- 
fort, and  the  people's  ease  and  quiet"  John  Penn,  the 
lovely  babe  he  alludes  to,  was  born  here  on  the  28th 
of  iith  month,  1699,  and  was  now  a  little  over 
thirteen  months  old  and  was  the  first  child  of  the 
present  wife. 

Notice  was  sent  by  the  Council  of  New  York  of  the 
death  there  of  the  Governor,  Lord  Bellomont,  on  the 
5th  instant,  who  had  been  for  some  time  seriously  in- 
disposed. The  Proprietary  addressed  a  brief  reply  to 
them  by  post  from  Philadelphia  on  the  17th  in  which 
he  says: 

"  Hon'd  Friends.  I  heartily  condole  your  loss  ;  it  is 
mine  as  well  as  yours,  and  the  King's  too.  May  that 
place  be  happy  in  a  successor ;  you  have  lost  a  Gov- 
ernor but  I  a  friend  and  an  honorable  and  friendly 
neighbor.  You  are  sure  of  all  the  good  offices  in  my 
power,  that  may  preserve  and  increase  a  good  under- 
standing between  the   Colonies  for  the  service  of  the 


308  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Crown  and  our  own  common  benefit.  I  take  your 
notice  with  sorrow  and  respect.  Your  affectionate  and 
faithful  friend." 

At  the  same  time  he  did  not  forget  the  Countess  in 
this  her  affliction,  at  whose  house  he  had  been  five 
months  previously  a  visitor  and  hospitably  entertained. 
The  following  beautiful  and  feeling  letter  was  addressed 
to  her  and  we  believe  has  never  before  been  published : 

"  Countess  of  Bellomont. 

"Noble  Friend. — My  grief  exceeds  my  surprise 
and  as  I  condole  so  great  a  loss  to  the  Lady  Bello- 
mont, I  must  not  leave  myself  out  of  that  measure 
and  share  by  the  real  honor  and  affection  I  had  for 
him  my  noble  Friend.  I  pray  God  soften  this  other- 
wise hard  stroke  to  his  family  great  losers,  not  other- 
wise to  be  repaired,  and  resignation  is  the  only  way  to 
it.  A  friend  as  well  as  a  husband  or  a  wife  is  a  double 
enjoyment  which  renders  the  loss  double  also ;  but  we 
are  born  to  die  and  death  is  the  way  to  the  longest  as 
well  as  the  best  life.  He  has  had  many  fits  that  have 
alarmed  thee  for  this  great  change,  so  that  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  has  been  a  preparative  for  your  parting. 
The  way  to  have  so  great  a  disappointment  sanctioned 
to  our  comfort,  is  by  this  sorrowful  occasion  to  learn 
how  to  wean  our  affections  from  those  things  that  are 
wont  to  move  us  most  with  pleasure  and  satisfaction  in 
this  world.  I  wish  my  noble  Friend,  anything  in  my 
power  could  serve  thee,  I  would  religiously  employ  it, 
for  the  wife  and  friend  of  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  shall 


LETTER    SENT    TO    COUNTESS    OF    BELLOMONT.    3O9 

always  claim  the  right  of  survivorship  in  the  esteem 
and  service  of  her  dear  Lord's  and  her  most  faithful 

friend 

Wm.  Penn. 

"  Mine  sends  with  me  our  salutes  in  true  mourning." 

(4.) 

From  the  many  kind  letters  that  had  passed  between 
the  parties  with  the  friendly  relations  that  existed,  we 
think  it  proper  to  give  here  some  further  account: 
Richard,  Earl-  of  Bellomont,  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Sligo,  Ireland,  in  1636,  and  became  there  the  second 
Baron  of  Colvony.  Through  his  opposition  to  James 
II.,  he  secured  the  favor  of  William  and  Mary  who, 
November  2d,  1689,  advanced  him  to  the  dignity  of 
Earl  of  Bellomont.  In  1660,  he  married  Catharine, 
the  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Nanfan,  Esq.,  of 
Birch  Morton,  in  the  county  of  Worcester,  with  whom 
he  had  two  sons,  who  successively  inherited  the  title, 
He  was  buried  with  considerable  honors  in  the  chapel 
of  the  fort  at  the  Battery.  Soon  after  his  decease  the 
Countess  returned  to  Ireland,  where  she  died  at  the 
family  seat  in  1728,  aged  90  years.  Lieut.  Governor 
Nanfan  who  succeeded  him  was  probably  her  brother. 

Penn  addressed  a  letter  from  Philadelphia  on  the 
31st  to  General  Codrington,  but  possesses  no  particular 
interest.  We  cannot  clearly  make  out  from  the  corres- 
pondence who  the  General  was,  but  infer  that  he  was 
at  this  time  Governor  of  Barbadoes. 

John    Hans,  an  Indian  trader,  was  in  the  practice  of 


3IO  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

introducing  rum  among  them,  who  it  appears  had 
promised  to  desist  and  call  and  see  the  Governor  on 
the  subject,  but  instead  of  doing  this  sent  an  agent  to 
Philadelphia  to  procure  supplies  for  the  said  traffic. 
On  ascertaining  this  the  Governor  on  the  I2th  of  2d 
month  (April)  sent  him  the  following  note  : 

"  John  Hans.  Thou  hast  often  promised  to  visit 
this  place  in  order  to  treat  with  me  about  thy  Indian 
trade,  but  hast  as  often  disappointed  me.  Thy  present 
management  thereof  amongst  us  is  directly  contrar>^  to 
our  Laws.  I  have  therefore  stopt  thy  goods  intended 
for  Lechay,  till  according  to  thy  frequent  engagements 
thou  comst  hither  thyself  and  give  further  satisfaction 
than  thou  hast  yet  done  to  thy  friend." 

A  serious  disturbance  likely  through  said  cause 
having  taken  place  about  this  time  on  the  Lehigh 
river,  Edward  Farmer  of  Whitemarsh,  interpreter,  and 
John  Sotcher  of  Pennsbury  were  sent  up  there  in  the 
following  month  to  ascertain  the  intentions  of  the 
Indians  in  that  vicinity.  The  above  is  the  earliest 
mention  of  said  river  known  to  us,  and  the  Germans 
to  this  day  in  their  language  in  that  section  call  it 
Lechay,  which  appears  to  be  the  proper  Indian  name. 
No  doubt  Hans  conveyed  his  goods  there  by  water, 
taking  advantage  of  the  spring  freshets  which  would 
permit  boats  of  sixteen  tons  and  more  to  ascend  to 
the  forks. 

A  meeting  of  Council  was  held  in  Philadelphia  on 
the  23d,  at  which  was  present  the  Governor,  several 


TREATY    WITH    SUSQUEHANNA    INDIANS.  3  I  I 

Members  of  the  board,  and  divers  others.  On  this 
occasion  some  forty  Susquehanna  Indians  were  intro- 
duced. Amongst  those  was  Connodaghtah,  chief  of 
the  Conestogoes,  VVopathha,  ah'as  Opessah  chief  of  the 
Shawanese,  Weewhinjough,  chief  of  the  Ganawese,  in- 
habiting the  head  of  the  Potomac  ;  also  Ahoakassough, 
brother  of  the  Emperor  or  great  King  of  the  Ononda- 
oes  of  the  Five  Nations,  with  Indian  Harry  as  inter- 
preter, besides  several  women  and  children.  Speeches 
were  made  and  a  Treaty  agreed  upon,  by  which  the 
Governor  promised  for  himself,  his  heirs  and  successors 
that  he  and  they  should  at  all  times  act  towards  each 
other  as  true  friends  and  brothers  to  each  and  all  of 
those  present,  by  assisting  them  with  the  best  of  ad- 
vice and  council,  and  in  all  just  and  reasonable  things 
to  befriend  them,  they  behaving  themselves  and  sub- 
mitting to  the  Laws  of  this  Province  in  all  matters  the 
same  as  the  English  and  other  Christians  therein  do. 
To  which  the  said  Indians  faithfully  agreed  to  abide 
both  for  themselves  and  their  posterity  forever.  The 
proceedings  of  this  treaty  may  be  seen  at  length  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Archives,  vol.  I.,  pp.  145-7.  A  meeting 
of  the  Council  was  also  held  on  the  25th  when  they 
adjourned. 

In  consequence  of  the  encroachments  of  the  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  Somerset  county  into  Sussex,  and  forcing 
some  of  the  citizens  there  to  yield  due  obedience  to 
the  authorities  of  Maryland,  induced  the  Governor  to 
proceed  down  there  and  learn  the  facts  of  the  case,  and 


3  I  2  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

receive  the  testimonies  of  creditable  witnesses  on  the 
subject.  From  Lewis  he  addressed  a  letter  on  the  6th 
of  3d  month  to  "  Col.  Jenkens  and  Lieut.  Col.  Whiting- 
ton,  or  either  of  them,"  who  were  residents  of  Somer- 
set, and  no  doubt  concerned  in  the  affair. 

"  Gaining  the  first  time,"  he  says  therein,  "  since  my 
arrival  into  these  parts  to  visit  the  people,  know  and 
redress  their  grievances  as  well  as  to  look  into  the  con- 
dition of  my  own  interest,  I  find  a  part  of  my  quiet  pos- 
session disturbed  by  the  subsheriff  of  Somerset  county 
and  part  of  the  inhabitants  claiming  under  me  con- 
strained from  their  obedience  and  fidelity  to  me  in  my 
double  capacity,  though  no  line  be  run  or  any  warrant 
from  our  superiors  at  home  to  justify  such  an  attempt. 
I  shall  not  enumerate  particulars  that  greatly  aggravate 
the  fault  of  the  subsheriff,  but  in  short  say  the  place  is 
mine  unless  running  the  line  deprive  me  being  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Dutch  settlement  and  therefore  first 
under  York  and  long  after  under  my  government  with- 
out his  legislation.  I  therefore  desire  you  as  gentle- 
men that  I  hope  wish  me  peace  would  seek  peace  and 
preserve  it,  to  give  no  disturbance  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Cedar  creek  nor  any  this  side  Cape  Henlopen.  I  was 
first  in  possession  and  on  my  part  I  shall  take  all  im- 
aginable care  that  no  officer  of  mine  shall  encroach 
either  in  property  or  power  upon  your  possession, 
whether  the  line  may  hereafter  favour  me  or  not.  I 
wish  you  all  happiness  and  am  your  cordial  and  affec- 
tionate friend." 


TREATY    WITH    SUSQUEHANNA    INDIANS.         313 

Respecting  this  affair  he  wrote  also  to  Col.  Blackis- 
ton,  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  from  Philadelphia  the 
23d.  "  In  my  journey,"  he  says,  "in  Sussex  county 
some  weeks  past  I  found  three  or  four  of  my  tenants 
and  inhabitants  of  this  Government  had  been  forced 
off  by  some  in  authority  in  Somerset  county,  Maryland, 
as  the  affidavits  which  accompany  this  express  show 
and  in  a  manner  too  that  was  an  aggravation  of  the 
breach  of  good  neighborhood  and  no  line  run  or  order 
from  him  to  back  it  till  the  line  was  run,  all  was  to 
stand  in  statu  quo.  I  am  sure  none  of  my  officers 
ever  attempted  the  least  encroachment  in  that  County 
or  at  the  head  of  the  Bay." 

This  long  and  troublesome  affair,  concerning  which 
Ellis  in  his  Life  of  Penn,  justly  remarks  that  "Though 
these  boundaries  appear  to  be  given  with  definiteness 
and  precision,  a  controversy  notwithstanding,  arose  at 
once  between  Penn  and  Lord  Baltimore,  which  out- 
lasted the  lives  of  both  of  them,  and,  being  continued 
by  their  representatives,  was  not  in  fact  closed  until  the 
Revolutionary  war." 

Troubles  at  this  time  were  apprehended  from  the 
Iroquois  or  Five  Nations,  residing  in  the  central  and 
northern  parts  of  New  York  adjoining  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  of  their  being  influenced  by  the  French  in 
Canada.  On  this  subject  Penn  addressed  a  letter  to 
the  Council  of  New  York  on  the  17th  of  3d  month, 
1 70 1,  in  which  he  gives  expression  to  the  following 
sentiments : 


314  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"  Some  of  our  Indians  on  Delaware  and  Susque- 
hanna are  apprehensive  of  ill  designs  against  them 
from  some  of  the  Five  Nations,  who  have  always  been 
in  alliance  with  the  government  of  New  York,  and 
entered  last  fall  into  a  more  solemn  league  with  the 
deceased  Lord  Bellomont  than  ever.  There  is  great 
reason  at  this  junction  to  support  the  attempts  of  the 
French  to  debautch  those  warlike  Nations  from  their 
fidelity  to  the  Crown  of  England,  and  therefore  will 
require  the  greater  care  to  eye  them.  I  have  sent 
messengers  to  inquire  fully  into  the  occasion  of  this 
and  on  their  return  shall  inform  you  further. 

"  It  is  now  to  be  wished  we  could  oblige  all  the 
Indians  that  live  amongst  or  in  amity  with  us,  to  sub- 
mit their  differences  to  the  respective  Governments  they 
live  under,  that  by  their  authority  they  might  be  ended 
and  not  by  military  attempts  of  their  own.  It  is  what 
I  have  inculcated  and  hope  not  without  success  among 
those  under  my  Government.  While  it  is  otherwise  it 
is  to  be  feared  they  will  be  made  use  of  by  our  Ene- 
mies in  fomenting  animosities  amongst  them,  till  I 
know  further  I  shall  hope  for  the  best." 

Meetings  of  the  Council  were  held  by  the  Governor 
in  Philadelphia  on  the  19th  and  3  ist  of  this  month. 
At  the  former  meeting  a  petition  was  read  from  Robert 
Guard  and  his  wife,  stating  that  a  certain  strange  woman 
had  lately  arrived  in  this  town,  who  was  taken  with  a 
very  sudden  illness  in  their  presence  on  the  17th  in- 
stant, and  several  pins  taken  out  of  her  breast.     John 


SECOND   CHARGE   OF   WITCHCRAFT.  315 

Richards,  a  butcher,  and  his  wife  Ann  charged  the 
petitioners  with  witchcraft,  and  as  being  the  authors  of 
the  mischief,  and  therefore  they  desire  their  accusers 
may  be  sent  for  in  order  either  to  prove  the  charge  or 
that  they  might  be  acquitted,  they  in  consequence  suffer- 
ing much  in  their  reputation,  and  through  that  means 
also  in  their  trade.  The  said  John  and  Ann  Richards 
being  sent  for  and  appearing,  the  matter  was  inquired 
into,  and  being  found  trifling  was  dismissed.  This  was 
the  second  charge  or  trial  for  witchcraft  brought  before 
Penn  and  his  Council.  The  first  was  tried  the  27th  of 
1 2th  month,  1683,  in  which  Swedes  were  chiefly  con- 
cerned; an  account  of  which  is  given  in  Chapter  XIII. 
In  the  present  case  the  parties  appear  to  be  all  of  Eng- 
lish extraction.  From  the  complaint  of  having 
suffered  by  it  in  reputation  and  trade  would  denote  a 
pretty  widespread  belief  in  it,  much  more  so  than  one 
would  have  otherwise  supposed.  Such  incidents  are 
calculated  to  show  the  frailties  of  poor  human  nature 
with  the  changes  to  which  they  are  occasionally  sub- 
ject. 

/  Witchcraft  was  made  a  crime  in  England  in  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth  in  1562,  and  the  laws  against  it 
were  not  formally  repealed  until  1736.  However,  it 
may  not  be  generally  known  that  the  law  of  Penn- 
sylvania actually  recognized  its  existence.  In  con- 
"^fnation  we  take  the  following  extract  from  an  "  Act 
for  the  Advancement  of  Justice,"  passed  May  31, 
171 8:    "And  be   it    further  enacted  by  the  authority 


3l6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

aforesaid,  that  another  Statute,  made  in  the  first  year 
of  the  Reign  of  King  James  the  First,  Chapter  12,  in- 
stituted An  Act  against  Conjuration,  Witchcraft  and 
dealing  with  evil  and  wicked  spirits,  shall  be  duly  put 
in  Execution  in  this  Province,  and  of  like  Force  and 
Effect  as  if  the  same  were  here  repeated  and  enacted." 


PENNS   JOURNEY    TO    THE    SUSQUEHANNA.  317 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

PENN's    journey     to     the    SUSQUEHANNA. VISITS 

MARYLAND,    MERION    AND    GVVYNEDD. 

RETIRES    TO    PENNSBURY. 

\June,  1701.'] 

During  4th  month  or  June,  in  relation  to  Penn 
several  important  occurrences  transpired  of  which  we 
regret  to  have  so  few  particulars.  This  was  his  favorite 
month  for  travel  or  journeys  into  the  interior,  the 
weather  then  being  mild,  and  the  roads  good  without 
the  intense  heats  and  draughts,  besides  the  annoyances 
from  insects  that  prevail  later  in  the  summer.  Meet- 
ings with  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
2d  and  after  that  not  till  the  26th  and  27th. 

Affairs  with  France  at  this  time  looked  troublesome,^ 
but  war  v.as  not  declared  by  England  with  that  power 
till  nearly  a  year  afterwards.  Still  alarms  were  occa- 
sionally created  on  the  subject  as  well  as  about  the 
Pirates.  The  Governor  in  a  letter  dated  the  4th  of  4th 
month  to  Governor  Nanfan,  remarks,  "  I  herewith  send 
a  Proclamation,  I  hope  it  pleases  though  the  old  one 
that  accompanies  it  is  very  particular  on  these  heads. 


3l8  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Our  alarm  about  a  foreign  ship  in  our  Bay  though 
banished,  has  given  us  some  trouble,  or  I  had  been 
larger  on  the  King's  letter  which  upon  my  return  from 
Maryland  I  purpose  to  do,  having  communicated  it  to 
whom  it  concerns,  but  we  are  so  poor,  that  there  is  not 
one  sous  or  penny  in  purse  above  daily  expenses." 

Soon  after,  the  Governor  must  have  set  out  on  a 
journey  into  the  interior  of  the  Province.  Isaac  Norris 
in  a  letter  dated  Philadelphia,  2ist  of  4th  month,  1701, 
to  Daniel  Zachary  thus  alludes  to  it :  "I  am  just  came 
home  from  Susquehanna,  where  I  have  been  to  meet 
the  Governor;  we  had  a  roundabout  journey,  having 
pretty  well  traversed  the  wilderness.  We  lived  nobly 
at  the  King's  palace  in  Conestogoa,  and  from  thence 
crossed  it  to  Scoolkill,  where  we  fell  in  about  thirty 
miles  up  from  hence." 

It  was  on  this  occasion,  as  tradition  states,  that  Penn 
got  lost  among  the  woods  on  the  hill  on  the  northern 
or  Chester  county  side,  near  the  present  Valley  Forge, 
and  that  he  did  not  know  where  he  was  till  he  got  on 
the  hill  this  side  of  Valley  Creek,  when  by  a  glimpse  of 
the  Schuylkill  and  the  country  to  the  southward  he  re- 
gained his  way,  and  in  consequence,  named  the  former 
hill  Mount  Misery,  and  the  latter  Mount  Joy,  which 
names  they  respectively  bear  to  this  day. 

Besides  seeing  more  of  the  country  at  this  lovely 
time  of  the  year,  it  is  probable  that  the  Proprietary's 
principal  object  was  to  win  over  the  Indians  more  to 
the  English  interests,  on  account  of  the  approaching 


PENNS  JOURNEY  TO  THE  SUSQUEHANNA.    319 

trouble  with  the  French.  It  is  likely  that  he  alludes 
to  this  in  his  letter  to  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions, dated  from  Pennsbury  on  the  2d  of  the  following 
(5th)  month.  "  I  have  had,"  he  says,  •'  divers  meetings 
with  the  several  Nations  of  Indians  of  these  parts  as 
the  Shaweno,  Susquehanna,  Schuylkill  and  Delaware 
Indians,  by  arguments  and  many  presents  to  persuade 
their  submission  to  the  Government,  and  not  to  war 
one  with  another  and  other  Indians  under  Govern- 
ments that  are  under  the  Crown  of  England,  but  rather 
that  they  would  refer  their  differences  to  the  respective 
Governments  they  live  under.  At  last  they  have 
agreed  to  war  no  more  upon  Indians  in  the  neigh- 
boring Governments  nor  any  where  else  under  the 
Crown  of  England,  but  to  refer  to  me  and  the  Govern- 
ment of  those  Indians  with  whom  they  may  have 
differences  the  decision  and  issue  of  any  such  differ- 
ences, of  which  I  have  written  to  the  Commander-in- 
chief  of  New  York,  who  answers  me  he  will  endeavor 
it  in  his  present  conference  with  the  Five  Nations  at 
Albany." 

This  journey  of  Penn's  to  the  Susquehanna  we  ob- 
serve has  led  to  some  error.  Janney  mentions  it  (2d 
ed.  p.  435)  as  having  taken  place  in  the  spring.  An 
article  appeared  in  the  Lancaster  Inquirer  of  Feb.  24, 
1 872,  in  which  mention  is  made  of  a  monument  hav- 
ing been  erected  and  dedicated  the  previous  22d  at  the 
Gap  in  Salisbury  township,  said  county,  on  the  roof  of 
a  frame  building  over  a  fine  spring  of  water,  "  where  it 


320  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

is  said  Penn  met  the  Indians  and  held  a  Council  with 
them."  It  is  composed  of  a  square  wooden  shaft 
neatly  painted  and  lettered.  On  the  west  side  is  en- 
scribed,  "In  memory  of  William  Penn  who  visited  this 
place  in  the  year  1 700."  Mention  is  made  that  it  was 
chiefly  erected  "  through  the  exertions  of  Isaac  Walker 
owner  of  said  spring  and  building,  who  was  led  to  it 
by  his  researches  on  the  subject"  It  is  probable  that 
Penn  may  have  met  the  Indians  in  council  there,  but 
this  visit  must  have  been  made  in  June,  1701.  The 
mistake  consists  in  setting  the  time  to  one  of  the  deeds 
from  the  Indians  for  lands  which  were  nearly  always, 
executed  in  Philadelphia. 

It  must  also  have  been  about  this  time  that  the  Gov- 
ernor made  his  visit  to  Maryland,  which  he  contem- 
plated in  his  letter  of  the  4th  instant.  John  Richard- 
son, a  Friend  from  England,  who  arrived  in  the  Patux- 
ent,  Maryland,  the  6th  of  ist  month,  1701,  and  re- 
mained in  this  country  till  the  6th  of  9th  month  of  the 
following  year.  In  the  account  of  his  life  (Friends 
Library,  vol.  VI.,  p.  99),  we  can  find  the  only  additional 
information  respecting  this  journey,  and  which  is  quite 
interesting,  only  regretting  that  he  gave  so  little  atten- 
tion to  dates. 

"  I  had  many  comfortable  meetings,"  he  says,  "  in 
my  travels  through  these  provinces,  and  good  service. 
We  were  at  a  Yearly  Meeting  at  Tredhaven  in  Mary- 
land, upon  the  Eastern  shore,  to  which  meeting  for 
worship  came  William    Penn,  Lord  Baltimore  and  his 


VISITS    MARYLAND,  MERION    AND    GWYNEDD.       32 1 

lady,  with  their  retinue,  but  it  was  late  when  they  came, 
and  the  strength  and  glory  of  the  heavenly  power  of 
the  Lord  was  going  off  from  the  meeting.  The  lady 
was  much  disappointed,  as  I  understood  by  William 
Penn,  for  she  told  him  she  did  not  want  to  hear 
him,  and  such  as  he,  for  he  was  a  scholar  and  a 
wise  man,  and  she  did  not  question  but  he  could  preach ; 
but  she  wanted  to  hear  some  of  our  mechanics  preach, 
as  husbandmen,  shoemakers,  and  such  like  rustics ;  for 
she  thought  they  could  not  preach  to  any  purpose. 
William  Penn  told  her,  some  of  these  were  rather  the 
best  preachers  we  had  amongst  us;  or  nearly  these 
words.  I  was  a  little  in  their  company,  and  I  thought 
the  lady  to  be  a  notable  wife,  and  withal  a  courteously 
carriaged  woman." 

Robert  Sutcliff  states  in  his  travels  (p.  108),  that  on 
the  loth  of  loth  month,  1805,  he  went  to  Radnor 
Monthly  Meeting  and  from  thence  to  Owen  Jones's, 
Jr.,  where  he  spent  the  evening,  and  who  was  one  of 
the  Friends  "  who  suffered  banishment  on  account  of 
their  supposed  attachment  to  the  British,  during  the 
Revolution.  His  sister  told  me  that  on  William  Penn's 
arrival  in  America,  he  lodged  at  her  great  grandfather's 
at  Merion.  At  that  time  her  grandfather  was  a  boy 
of  about  twelve 'years  old;  and  being  a  lad  of  some 
curiosity,  and  not  often  seeing  such  a  guest  as  Wm^ 
Penn,  he  privately  crept  to  the  chamber  door,  up  a 
flight  of  steps,  on  the  outside  of  the  building,  which 

21 


322  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

was  only  a  log-house.  On  peeping  through  the  latchet- 
hole,  he  was  struck  with  awe,  in  beholding  this  great 
man  upon  his  knees,  by  the  bed-side;  and  could  dis- 
tinctly hear  him  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving,  that  he 
was  thus  provided  for  in  the  wilderness.  This  circum- 
stance made  an  impression  upon  the  lad's  mind,  which 
was  not  effaced  in  old  age." 

The  Friends  in  Gwynedd  having  become  sufficiently 
numerous  in  i/oo,  erected  a  small  log  building  for 
worship  in  the  centre  of  the  township,  and  at  the  site 
of  the  present  meeting-house.  There  is  a  tradition 
that  the  Proprietary,  accompanied  by  his  daughter  Le- 
titia  and  a  servant,  came  out  on  horseback  to  visit  the 
settlement  not  long  after  its  erection,  and  that  he 
preached  in  it.  Staying  on  this  occasion  over  night 
at  the  house  of  his  friend  Thomas  Evans,  the  first  set- 
tler, who  resided  near  by.  As  he  returned  to  England 
in  the  beginning  of  November  it  may  be  that  this  ex- 
cursion occurred  about  this  pleasant  time.  The  dis- 
tance from  Philadelphia  being  about  nineteen  miles. 

After  his  several  journeys  and  the  warm  weather 
now  coming  on,  we  find  him  retired  again  to  his  beloved 
home  and  country  seat,  where  we  know  that  he  chiefly 
remained  for  the  following  three  months.  Under  date 
of  Pennsbury  30th  of  4th  month,  1701,  the  Governor 
writes  to  his  Secretary,  Logan,  in  Philadelphia,  '*  I 
forgot  a  material  point — the  last  Indian  instru- 
ment from  the  Conestogo  Indians — which  I  must  have, 
or  a  copy,  before  I  can  answer  Col.  Blackiston's  letter ; 


RETURNS    TO    PENNSBURY.  323 

a  false  story  firing  two  or  three  of  their  foolish  people 
of  our  inviting  the  Piscataways  from  Maryland,  instead 
of  their  seeking  us :  but  Governor  Blackiston  would 
not  believe  it.  Fail  not,  therefore,  to  send  it  to  Sam- 
uel Jennings  for  me  with  speed,  who  will  be  with  me; 
or  send  it  by  Governor  Hamilton,  who  dines  with  me 
on  Fourth-day.  Also  thy  sentiments  by  Judge  Guest 
who  comes  up  to-morrow  to  Burlington,  in  order  to  be 
here  with  Gov.  Hamilton,  by  whom  thou  mayest  send 
the  deed  directly.  Get  us  a  third  of  a  good  pipe 
of  Madeira  for  our  own  use.  We  are  through  Mercy 
well." 

His  wife  at  the  same  time  adds  by  way  of  postscript, 
"  Send  up  the  parlor  bell,  three  or  four  stock  locks, 
three  or  four  pounds  of  nails,  from  four  to  ten  penny." 
We  see  by  this  that  the  Governor  was  friendly  and 
hospitably  inclined,  and  that  he  had  frequently  dis- 
tinguished guests  at  his  house,  whom  he  desired  to 
entertain  as  became  his  station. 


324  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

PENN'S  advice  sought  in  treating  with  the  INDIANS. 

ATTENDS     FALLS     MEETING. HAS     A 

LONG    ACCOUNT  PENDING  WITH 
THOMAS  FAIRMAN. 

\_July,  1701.'] 

As  the  Governor  remained  so  closely  at  Pennsbury 
during  the  months  of  July,  August  and  September 
that  we  shall  omit  the  mention  of  his  place  of  resi- 
dence during  this  time  only  when  absent,  and  which  as 
we  shall  find  by  his  correspondence  or  otherwise  was 
but  seldom. 

On  the  2d  of  5th  month,  1 701,  he  addressed  a  letter 
to  Gov.  Nanfan,  of  New  York,  respecting  the  best 
means  to  preserve  peace  with  the  Indians,  and  how  to 
secure  their  influence  from  the  designs  of  the  French. 
It  would  appear  from  the  success  he  had  already 
acquired  in  his  own  Province  on  this  matter,  his 
opinions  were  sought  not  only  by  the  respective  Gov- 
ernments here,  but  at  home,  and  from  the  profound 
attention  paid  to  his  views  it  is  very  probable  that  he 
exerted  a  much  greater  influence  than  has  been  sup- 
posed, as  his   correspondence  on  this   subject  alone  is 


ADVICE   SOUGHT    IN    TREATING    THE    INDIANS.     325 

pretty  extensive,  of  which  very  Httle  has  heretofore 
been  published. 

"  Had  I  known  it  earlier,"  he  writes  to  Nanfan,  "  of 
thy  journey  to  Albany  I  should  have  prayed  leave  to 
have  made  one  of  thy  retenue.  It  is  of  great  import- 
ance that  the  Five  Nations  and  all  other  Indians  in  the 
dominion  of  the  crown  of  England  were  one  people 
and  depended  on  each  respective  Government  they 
were  under,  than  thatthey  were  a  confederacy  of  them- 
selves for  that  might  teach  them  to  be  more  formidable 
to  us  than  they  are  to  the  common  enemy.  I  must 
take  the  freedom  to  press  this  thought  for  the  King's 
service  at  this  juncture,  for  I  am  not  more  of  a  better 
opinion  and  I  find  the  Sachemas  of  our  Indians  (that 
I  am  told  make  at  least  one  thousand  fighting  men) 
take  it  well  and  resolve  to  quiet  their  war  with  the 
Carolina  Indians  and  refer  themselves  to  me  upon  all 
differences  with  the  Indians  in  the  Government  under 
the  Crown  of  England. 

"  Pardon  this  repetition  I  am  contented  to  leave  the 
honour  of  it  to  thy  negotiation  with  the  Five  Nations 
and  hope  to  hear  a  good  effect  thereof  at  thy  return. 
I  have  been  very  large  to  the  several  Nations  that  live 
within  this  Government  by  presents  and  entertain- 
ments, and  hope  that  if  the  Indians  be  set  or  rather 
kept  so  we  shall  be  all  safe  on  that  hand.  I  also  offer 
to  thy  consideration,  if  it  is  not  fit  to  be  an  article  of 
agreement,  that  all  former  agreements  and  gifts  and 
grants  of  lands  made  by  them  should  be  ratified  and 


326  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

continued,  and  that  all  the  subjects  of  the  Crown  of 
England  may  freely  and  securely  plant  in  any  of  their 
territories,  so  as  to  have  the  allowance  of  the  Govern- 
ment under  which  they  live  so  to  do.  I  must  beg  thy 
excuse  if  I  look  busy  I  take  this  to  be  the  time  to 
fasten  such  points  as  well  as  that  of  being  friends  at 
large." 

On  the  9th  of  this  (5th)  month  John  Routledge, 
yeoman  of  Falls  township,  Bucks  county,  was  married 
to  Margaret  Dalton  of  said  neighborhood.  They 
"  appeared  in  a  publick  and  solemn  assembly  of  ye  afore- 
said people  met  together  for  yt  end  and  purpose  at 
their  usuall  meeting  house  in  ye  Falls  township 
aforesd."  The  following  were  present  and  signed  their 
names  as  witnesses  to  the  certificate  :  William  Penn, 
Hannah  Penn,  Edward  Shippen,  Thos.  Chalkley, 
Thos.  Story,  Wm.  Biles,  Jno.  Richardson,  Phineas 
Pemberton,  Thos.  Bartlett,  Richd.  Hough,  Wm.  Beaks, 
Saml.  Burges,  Nichos.  Fairlame,  Stephen  Willson,Saml. 
Goldy,  Wm.  Fishbourne,  Wm.  Routledge,  Jane  Biles, 
Elizth.  Brock,  Esther  Yardley,  Ann  Eliot,  Sarah 
Sirket,  Phebe  Baker,  Margery  Hough,  Rachel  Bun- 
ting, Mary  Hough,  Mary  Wildman,  Sarah  Clements 
and  Rebeckah  Shippen.  Edward  Shippen,  Rebeckah 
Shippen,  Thomas  Story,  and  Wm.  Fishbourne  were 
from  Philadelphia,  and  probably  with  Thomas  Chalkley 
and  John  Richardson  at  this  time  visitors  at  Penns- 
bury,  and  in  attending  worship  here  thus  happened  to 
be  present. 


ATTENDS    FALLS    MEETING.  327 

Respecting  this  affair,  John  Richardson  in  his  Life 
remarks,  "  I  was  at  WiUiam  Penn's  country  house 
called  Pennsbury,  in  Pennsylvania,  where  I  staid  two 
or  three  days,  on  one  of  those  days  I  was  at  a  meeting 
and  a  marriage."  Concerning  John  Routledge  we  find 
a  few  additional  particulars  in  the  records  of  Falls  and 
of  Middletown  Monthly  Meetings.  Thomas,  his  eldest 
son,  was  born  in  1702,  Rachel  in  1703,  Elizabeth  in 
1705,  Sarah  in  171 3,  and  Isabel  in  17 17.  In  this 
latter  year  he  removed  to  Middletown  township  where 
he  died  the  23d  of  5th  month,  1725,  and  was  buried  in 
Friends'  burying  ground  there,  now  within  the  limits 
of  the  present  borough  of  Langhorne.  He  was  a 
minister  amongst  Friends. 

The  Governor  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Council  in 
Philadelphia,  on  the  14th,  on  which  occasion  it  was 
"  Ordered  that  a  Proclamation  immediately  issue  for 
calling  the  members  of  the  present  General  Assembly 
to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  the  first  day  of  August  next, 
to  inspect  into  several  affairs  of  moment,  etc.  Ad- 
journed till  the  23d  instant,  at  9  in  the  morning." 
Owing  to  ill  health  and  an  increased  pain  in  his  leg, 
was  not  able  to  be  in  town  till  the  26th,  when  another 
meeting  of  the  Council  was  held. 

On  the  14th  he  wrote  to  Logan,  "I  have  wanted 
thee  for  a  proclamation  for  the  sitting  of  the  Assembly, 
at  the  time  to  consider  of  the  King's  letters,  as  well  as 
divers  other  things  of  moment — N.  Puckle  going  so 
soon,    with    whom    I  would  have   sent  something, — 


328  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA.     . 

tobacco,  twenty  hogsheads  or  forty,  if  I  could  have 
called  out  so  many  good  ones  of  bright  tobacco.  In 
short,  pray  despatch  and  be  here  by  this  day  or  to- 
morrow week.  Judge  Guest  is  this  day  admitted  to  the 
Council.  Governor  Hamilton  in  town:  nothing  yet 
done  conclusive,  nor  shall  till  the  Assembly  is  over. 
Thomas  Fairman  comes  with  this  to  clear  himself, 
and  to  do  what  he  can  in  reason  for  my  service." 
Penn  has  reference  here  to  a  communication  sent  him 
by  Fairman,  in  reply  to  some  charges  that  had  been 
made  against  him  in  his  capacity  of  deputy  to  the 
Surveyor  General.  The  whole  may  be  seen  in  the 
Penn  and  Logan  correspondence  (vol.  I,  p.  49),  from 
which  we  give  the  following  interesting  extracts: 

"Governor: — Enclosed  is  what  I  promised  for  the 
first  part,  considering  I  have  above  six  thousand  acres 
of  land  of  my  own  yet  to  take  up,  and  much  more  for 
my  friends.  The  Prcprietor  may  confide  in  my  having 
ever  without  reward  preferred  his  interest,  and  dare 
challenge  the  whole  country  to  manifest  the  contrary. 
I  confess  I  have  took  it  a  little  hardly  that  strangers 
less  capable  have  been  preferred  to  offices  of  profit,  and 
myself  overlooked. 

"1  can  say,  since  I  came  from  England,  I  have 
never  had  in  all  the  value  of  forty  shillings  for  any 
surveys  or  other  business  done  whatsoever,  and  I  am 
sure  the  account  of  my  house  and  expense  stands 
above  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds  since  my  arrival, 
besides  what  my  plantation  hath   brought  in;    and  I 


LONG    ACCOUNT    WITH    THOMAS    FAIRMAN.         329 

will  never  survey  for  one-half,  and  were  I  surveyor- 
general  myself,  I  should  be  charged  with  oppression 
to  allow  my  deputy  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  survey 
wages.  There  wants  but  a  word  from  my  mouth  and 
he  would  hardly  find  a  deputy  in  the  province;  beside 
my  circumstances  are  not  as  -theirs  ;  my  knowledge  in 
the  three  counties  exceeding;  besides,  above  sixteen 
years  ago,  at  my  own  charge  for  hands,  horses  and 
provisions. 

"  I  laid  out  many  manors  for  the  Proprietor,  and 
never  had  a  penny  consideration  ;  and  also,  besides 
all  that  the  Proprietor  may  remember  how  I  have  been 
as  his  boy,  to  show  this  and  that  man,  such  and  the 
other  piece  of  land,  riding  my  own  horse  and  some- 
times two, — one  for  the  person  to  be  showed.  But 
this  is  all  passed.  I  mention  it  to  show  the  difference 
and  much  more  I  could  say,  of  my  service  at  Gov- 
ernor Markham's  first  arrival,  and  my  unprofitable 
travels  with  Thomas  Holme,  beside  my  business,  who 
at  last  died  my  debtor  as  per  account  one  hundred  and 
forty-seven  pounds,  of  which  I  never  had  a  penny." 

If  the  aforesaid  is  correct,  which  we  believe  has 
nowhere  been  questioned,  Fairman  had  as  good 
grounds  for  complaint  in  not  being  compensated  as 
any  other  person.  Penn  must  have  been  dilatory 
both  in  his  payments  and  settlements  to  have  let 
matters  go  on  so  long,  extending  back  now  for  almost 
nineteen  years,  and  through  the  pressure  of  his  other 
debts  was  none  the  better  enabled  to  discharge,  and  near 


330  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

too  when  he  was  about  making  preparations  to  return  to 
England.  Fairman  therein  intimates  the  appointment 
of  another  Surveyor-General  after  the  death  of  Captain 
Holme  in  1695,  most  probably  meaning  Edward  Pen- 
ington  which  he  thinks  should  have  been  more  prop- 
erly filled  by  himself,  owing  both  to  his  experience  and 
long  position  as  deputy.  James  Logan,  it  seems,  bore 
him  no  good  will,  for  in  a  letter  on  this  matter  to  the 
Proprietary  says,  "  I  have  not  yet  discovered  Thomas 
Fairman  about  those  great  tracts  of  land.  Thou  fully 
knows  my  opinion  of  the  man,  and  time  does  not  alter 
it.  This  letter,  perhaps  may  be  of  service  to  thee,  but 
there  is  no  dependence  upon  him." 

In  regard  to  the  aforesaid,  Penn  further  remarks  on 
the  30th,  "  I  have  thine  by  Thomas  Fairman.  I  can 
only  say  that  I  will  be  certain  in  my  own  right,  and 
that  he  shall.  I  intend  him  the  island  under  some 
moderate  conditions,  as  mowing  for  my  own  use,  and 
having  some  hogs  on  it  with  him,  till  it  be  drained  or 
improved,  of  which  more  when  in  town,  so  that  I  am 
content  to  oblige  him  ;  but  remember  that  I  ask  thee  a 
question  about  the  letter  he  writ  thee  when  I  come  to 
town."  The  island  here  alluded  to  most  probably  was 
the  one  in  the  Delaware  close  to  Pennsbury.  Fairman 
assisted  Thomas  Holme  in  laying  out  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia.     He  ditd  in  17 14. 

On  the  17th  the  Governor  wrote  to  Logan,  "The 
Master  is  come,  and  wants  twenty  tons  of  flour  and 
bread,  and   I   want  thee.     Things  happen  cross  at  this 


LONG    ACCOUNT    WITH    THOMAS    FAIRMAN.         33 1 

juncture  by  thy  absence,  we  see.  All,  through  mercy, 
well,  only  my  broken  shin.  If  thou  wast  here,  poor 
Tishe  might  have  one  bill  home  for  Charles  Read's 
pay,  he  or  his  money  supplying  with  some  of  the  flour 
now  needed."  He  here  has  reference  to  his  daughter 
Letitia's  yearnings  for  returning  to  England  of  which 
we  shall  learn  more  in  a  few  months.  Perhaps  the 
pains  of  his  leg  were  increased  by  his  exertions  and 
arduous  journeys  the  previous  month  on  horseback- 
mentioned  in  the  last  chapter. 

"  I  was,"  he  writes  on  the  23d,  "  for  trying  yester- 
day to  have  come  to  town,  but  was  feverish,  and  a  cold 
upon  me,  besides  an  ill  shin.  To-day  my  cold  is 
worse  than  yesterday,  and  have  had  a  restless,  feverish 
night,  so  I  am  doubtful  I  shall  not  come  this  after- 
noon ;  and  if  so,  intend  a  good  sweat  to-night,  and  to- 
morrow by  land  or  water  to  undertake  my  journey. 
My  daughter  was  ill  yesterday  with  fever  and  cold, 
but  has  had  a  good  night,  and  is  better.  John  should 
return  as  soon  as  he  well  can."  The  23d  had  been 
designated  for  him  to  meet  the  Council  in  Philadelphia, 
in  consequence  adjourned  there  to  the  26th  when  he 
was  present. 

Some  time  this  year  Edward  Hunloke,  who  had 
been  deputy  Governor  of  West  New  Jersey  several 
years  previous,  wrote  to  the  Governor  from  Burlington  : 
"  Honored  Sir,  Seth  Hill's  Negro  brought  me  fifty 
bottles  to  be  filled  with  my  best  wine  I  have  accord- 
ingly done  it,  viz :  eight  gallons  and  a  quarter  of  the 


332  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

paler  sort,  and  three  gallons  of  the  richer.  I  hope  it 
will  prove  to  satisfaction.  The  boatman  saw  the  pack- 
ing of  them,  and  gave  him  strict  charge  to  be  very- 
careful.  He  waiting  for  this  note.  I  have  nothing 
further  to  add  but  that  I  am  your  Honor's  most  hum- 
ble servant."  During  his  residence  at  Pennsbury,  as 
may  be  observed  by  his  correspondence,  the  Governor 
was  in  the  frequent  practice  of  receiving  supplies  from 
Burlington. 


EFFORTS  TO  DEPRIVE  PENN  OF  HIS  COLONY.  333 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

EFFORTS    MADE    IN    PARLIAMENT    TO    DEPRIVE    PENN  OF 

HIS    COLONY. POLITICAL    KNAVERY    NO    NEW 

THING. WRITES  NUMEROUS  LETTERS  IN 

DEFENCE  OF  HIMSELF  AND 
GOVERNMENT. 

{_August,  1701.'] 

During  August  or  6th  month,  the  Governor  held 
meetings  with  the  Council  in  Philadelphia  on  the  ist, 
2d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  22d  and  23d.  On  the  22d  he  com- 
municated to  the  Board  advices  he  had  received 
yesterday  from  England  by  the  ship  Messejiger, 
giving  an  account  of  the  great  and  strenuous  en- 
deavors, used  by  several  combined  interests,  to  procure 
an  act  of  Parliament  for  annexing  to  the  Crown  the 
several  Proprietary  Governments,  to  effect  which,  at 
the  date  of  his  letters,  there  was  a  bill  before  the  House 
of  Lords  which  had  been  twice  read,  and  though  not 
likely  to  pass  this  session,  yet  there  was  no  probability 
of  staving  it  off  longer  than  the  next,  unless  the  Pro- 
prietary could  personally  be  there  to  make  his  defence, 
and  obviate  the  arguments  brought  against  this  Gov- 
ernment by  evil   minded  persons,  who  were  bent  on 


334  ^VM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

overthrowing  the  ^ame.  Therefore  the  Governor  pro- 
posed to  the  consideration  of  the  Board,  what  might 
be  the  most  effectual  methods  to  secure  the  general 
interest  of  the  first  adventurers  in  founding  the  colony, 
were  in  a  great  measure  struck  at  by  the  said  endeavors. 
Whereupon  it  was  resolved,  that  the  first  step  that 
could  be.  taken  would  be  to  call  an  Assembly  with  all 
expedition,  writs  for  this  purpose  to  be  forthwith 
issued,  for  calling  a  new  Assembly,  to  sit  on  the  15th 
day  of  the  7th  month  ensuing. 

Here  was  now  a  great  and  new  trouble,  involving 
much  additional  expense  on  the  Proprietary  to  remain 
secure  in  his  rights,  besides  requiring  his  attendance 
in  London  to  rebut  the  several  charges  made  against 
him  and  his  Government.  Politicians  even  in  those 
days  were  also  selfish  and  had  their  deep  laid  plots  and 
plans,  by  which  they  alone  expected  to  be  benefitted,  not 
caring  beyond  this  for  either  rights,  justice  or  principles. 
But  at  the  same  time  if  we  carefully  proceed  in  this 
work  we  cannot  fail  to  see  the  continual  evils  arising 
from  the  colonial  system ;  the  home  Government 
being  so  jealous  and  exacting,  and  their  growth  under 
the  circumstances  must  continue  to  make  them  more 
so.  The  very  nature  of  a  representative  Assembly, 
elected  too  by  the  people,  could  not  fail  but  help  extend 
the  principles  that  must  eventually  aspire  to  freedom 
and  independence ;  between  the  two  the  Proprietary 
could  be  little  more  than  a  figure  head.  The  thoughts 
of  Penn  no  doubt  often    dwelt  on  this  very    subject 


EFFORTS    TO    DEPRIVE    PENN    OF    HIS    COLONY.     335 

amidst  his  numerous  trials  and  vexations,  as  may  be 
occasionally  observed  in  his  writings.  Take,  for 
instance,  his  plan  for  the  Union  of  the  Colonies,  and 
also  his  suggestions  respecting  the  Plantations,  even 
intimations  of  this  kind  may  also  be  found  in  several 
of  his  letters. 

It  appears  that  the  Governor  at  this  time  was  very 
anxious  to  have  his  papers  sent  to  England.  In  his 
letter  to  Logan  on  the  13th  says,  "  Remember  that  in 
two  of  my  letters  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  I  promised 
the  Laws  by  the  first  ship  that  goes  hence ;  so  that  I 
shall  be  under  a  necessity  of  sending  some,  and,  in- 
deed excepting  those  that  alienate  my  fines,  and  that  of 
property  as  it  stands,  the  generality  may  go  as  they 
are ;  for  this  I  must  stop  Nathaniel  Puckle  if  it  be  for 
a  week.  Pray  get  them  transcribed  by  good  hands 
with  all  speed.  I  send  John  Saunders  to  be  helpful, 
and  I  desire  cousin  Asheton  to  assist.  It  is  thy  busi- 
ness, for  it  was  Patrick  Robinson's,  and  he  did  it.  I 
purpose  to  be  in  town  Seventh  or  Second  day,  accord- 
ing as  I  hear  of  N.  Puckle."  This  last  mentioned 
person  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel  called  the  Bristol 
Trader. 

Soon  after  Penn  had  commenced  the  improvements 
on  his  Pennsbury  estate,  he  had  also  an  orchard  of 
fruit  set  out  of  the  best  English  varieties.  These  trees 
must  have  now  attained  some  size  and  yielded  well  if 
we  are  to  judge  by  his  preparations.  On  the  13th  he 
wrote   to   his  Secretary,  "  Forget  not  to  provide  some 


336  WM.  PENN    IN    AiMERICA. 

larger  vessels  for  the  keeping  of  cider  than  barrels. 
Four  barrels  and  four  hogsheads  will  do,  and  if  no 
hogsheads,  then  two  pipes,  one  at  least."  A  few  days 
later  writes  again  to  "  send  us  up  for  cider  what  barrels 
thou  canst  get  in  town,  by  the  very  first  opportunity. 
I  mean  such  as  are  sweet,  and  have  had  cider  in  them 
— they  will  be  cheapest ;  also  an  empty  pipe  or  two 
to  put  the  mash  of  the  apples  in,  being  sawn  asun- 
der. I  think  we  will  send  in  a  day  or  two  for  the  casks. 
S.  Holt  may  help  us  to  them  cheaper."  For  that 
section  of  Pennsylvania  the  making  of  cider  in  the 
middle  of  August  appears  to  be  soon,  they  must  have 
either  consisted  generally  of  early  varieties  or  else 
that  the  seasons  were  then  earlier  in  maturing  fruit, 
which  may  also  have  been  the  case.  John  Oldmixon, 
who  visited  Pennsbury  before  1708,  speaks  of  the 
orchards  there  producing  "  excellent  pearmains  and 
pippins." 

We  now  come  to  where  Penn  in  his  several  letters 
expresses  his  views  on  the  efforts  being  made  before 
Parliament  to  abolish  the  Proprietary  system  and  an- 
nexing the  several  Provinces  to  the  Crown.  These  re- 
marks are  interesting  and  show  the  great  expense  and 
sacrifices  he  had  made  in  the  establishing  of  his 
colony.  To  Charles  Lawton,  I  believe  a  member  of 
Parliament,  he  writes  on  the   i8th  from  Philadelphia. 

"  I  wish  myself  twenty  years  younger  and  no 
Englishman,  and  I  would  hope  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of 
my    labour    and    receive  the  return  of  my  deep  and 


POLITICAL    KNAVERY    NO    NEW    THING.  337 

sinking  expenses.  For  instead  of  proscribing  me  it 
pays  not  the  debt  that  the  Crown  owed  my  Father  but 
involves  me  in  ;^20,ooo  Sterling  to  bring  it  to  the 
pass  it  is  in,  which  the  loss  of  the  Government  defeats 
me  of  in  the  means  and  hopes  of  being  reimbursed. 
I  have  spent  I  am  sure  more  money  on  the  country, 
government  and  the  defence  of  it  since  I  had  it  against 
such  knaves  as  now  attempt  its  ruin  and  mine. 
This  it  is  that  makes  my  case  singular  and  deserv- 
ing of  singular  notice  and  distinction  from  common 
Proprietaries  or  incorporated  bodies  though  the  at- 
tempt is  unjust  upon  them  all." 

In  defence  of  himself  on  this  important  matter  he 
wrote  letters  on  the  25th  to  the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
and  Marquis  of  Normandy ;  on  the  26th  to  the  Duke  of 
Somerset,  Lord  Jeffrey  and  Lord  Pawlett,  and  on  the 
27th  to  the  Earl  of  Dorset.  To  the  latter  he  says, 
"  Powers  are  properly  in  this  case  our  encouragement 
in  seeking  our  repose  in  a  wilderness  three  thousand 
miles  from  home  where  I  never  thought  any  could  envy 
our  enjoyments  of  them,  the  soil  and  savage  mere 
creation  and  as  such  we  purchase  it  of  the  natives.  But 
it  is  our  hands  and  purses  that  have  improved  it  to  an 
English  sort  of  property,  and  it  shall  be  an  favour  to 
have  a  proviso  for  this  ?  Who  ever  made  colonies  at 
this  rate  ?  I  took  it  for  a  great  debt  and  meritorious, 
which  cost  me  almost  as  much  to  solicit  it,  and  though 
I  could  have  bought  it  for  i^i200  I  took  it  in  lieu  of 
22 


338  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

all  further  hopes  of  ;^20,ooo  which  my  demands  came 
to  or  very  near  it  in  1681,  and  about  which  I  gave 
thee  many  a  troublesome  visit.  If  I  shall  have  time  to 
lay  out  just  as  much  again  and  to  be  deprived  of  it 
when  it  should  make  me  amends,  what  severe  usage 
among  men  ?  " 

The  aforesaid  letters  are  generally  lengthy,  wherein 
he  displays  his  remarkable  powers  as  a  ready  writer  to 
which  we  have  several  times  before  alluded.  We  are 
not  aware  that  any  of  the  aforesaid  letters  have  been 
published,  or  that  any  extracts  have  been  heretofore 
given,  or  reference  made  to  them  by  any  writers. 


REMARKABLE    INDUSTRY    OF    THE    GOVERNOR.     339 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

REMARKABLE  INDUSTRY  OF  THE  GOVERNOR. ILLNESS  OF 

PHINEAS  PEMBERTON. INTERESTING  ADDRESS 

TO    THE    ASSEMBLY. NOTICE    OF 

JOSEPH  GROW  DON. 

\September,  1701^ 

With  his  usual  industry  the  Proprietary  continued 
writing  more  letters  for  England  in  justification  of  his 
course  and  to  thwart  the  designs  of  his  adversaries. 
"  I  have  heard,"  he  states  to  the  Earl  of  Romney  on 
the  6th  of  this  (7th)  month,  "  of  the  very  unfair  treat- 
ment some  have  given  me  in  my  absence,  which  I  am 
apt  to  think  one  word  from  the  King  if  I  could  deserve 
it  would  alter.  I  was  thus  attacked  in  King  James' 
time,  and  when  he  came  to  know  the  ruin  it  would 
prove  to  me,  he  cried  out  God  forbid,  he  would  never 
be  the  author  of  such  cruelty.  To  be  treated  like  a 
transgressor  is  to  observe  no  measure  to  merit  or  in- 
nocency,  at  least  here  I  am  come  to  rectify  things.  I 
have  had  an  expensive  and  hazardous  voyage  done  it 
and  now  I  must  be  4:urned  out  as  a  delinquent.  God 
help  us!" 


340  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

On  the  same  day  he  wrote  to  Logan  and  directs  him 
to  "  prepare  dupHcates  to  go  by  Edward  Shippen's  ship, 
of  what  went  last.  I  have  written  to  Lord  Romney, 
and  send  it  now  to  be  copied.  I  think  to  be  in  town 
Fourth  or  Fifth  day." 

To  his  Secretary  he  addressed  a  long  and  interesting 
letter  on  the  8th,  which  contains  considerable  informa- 
tion, revealing  his  anxieties  and  the  embarrassments 
attending  his  present  situation  and  circumstances. 
"  The  necessity  of  my  going,"  he  says,  "  makes  it  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  me  to  have  a  supply,  and  though 
I  think  a  ;^i,ooo  should  be  forthwith  raised,  by  Friends 
at  least,  to  help  me,  yet,  while  land  is  high  and  valua- 
ble, I  am  willing  to  dispose  of  many  good  patches  that 
else  I  should  have  chosen  to  have  kept  as  everybody's 
money.  To  set  about  this,  I  desire  T.  Fairman,  and 
C.  P.*  to  come  to  me  hither.  I  have  opened  my  mind 
therein  to  them,  and  they  have  assured  me  that  they 
will  forthwith,  a  week  being  now  more  than  six  months 
another  season.  They  will  communicate  to  thee  all 
they  know  and  remember,  and  endeavor  to  find  out 
what  customers  they  can,  and  acquaint  thee  of  the 
value  to  set  on  the  premises,  in  order  to  immediate 
supplies.  The  present  Welsh  from  England  are  divers 
of  them  rich,  and  will  want  quantities,  and  T.  Fairman 
undertakes  to  accommodate  them  handsomely.  Lose 
not  the  opportunity. 

"  Joseph   Growdon,  and  J.  Swift,  who  had  the  first 

*  Very  probably  Caleb  Pusey. 


REMARKABLE    INDUSTRY   OF    THE   GOVERNOR.     34 1 

choice,  and  would  not  serve  without  J.  Growdon,  but 
against  them  all,  of  one  hundred  freeholders,  there 
were  not  thirty-one  present — an  ill  precedent  for  elec- 
tions, and  which  I  could  regret,  for  many  here  are 
troubled  at  it,  and  have  declared  themselves  to  me.  I 
think  to  stay  over  their  court,  which  will  be  next 
Fourth  day.  Poor  Phineas  is  a  dying  man,  and  was 
not  at  the  election,  though  he  crept,  as  I  may  say,  to 
meeting  yesterday.  I  am  grieved  at  it,  for  he  has  not 
his  fellow,  and  without  him,  this  is  a  poor  country  in- 
deed. 

"  I  cannot  prevail  on  my  wife,  and  still  less  with 
Tishe.  I  know  not  what  to  do.  Samuel  Carpenter 
seems  to  excuse  her  in  it ;  but,  to  all  that  speak  of  it, 
say  I  shall  have  no  need  to  stay,  and  a  great  interest 
to  return.  All  that  I  have  to  dispose  of  in  this  world 
is  here,  for  daughter  and  son,  and  all  the  issue  which 
this  wife  is  like  to  bring  me,  and  that  having  no  more 
gains  by  government  to  trust  to  for  bread,  I  must  come 
to  sell,  pay  debts,  and  live,  and  lay  up  for  this  posterity, 
as  well  as  that  they  may  see  that  my  inclinations  run 
strongly  to  a  country  and  proprietary  life,  which  then 
I  shall  be  at  liberty  to  follow,  together  with  her  promise 
to  return  whenever  I  am  ready.  I  confess  this  is  one 
of  the  greatest  arguments  for  some  Friends  of  note 
going  with  us — ^to  bring  us  back  again  ;  else  they  can 
do  but  little  there,  and  their  expense  may  better  help 
me.  We  want  a  little  good  Madeira  wine,  and  some  of 
the  last  white  wine,  if  thou  canst  hit  upon  it.     I  am 


342  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

troubled  at  Judge  Guest's  heat  to  Samuel  Carpenter — 
in  a  Judge  it  is  scandalous.  Try  to  cool  him.  His 
being  indiscreet,  is  his  great  fault.  Fifth  or  Sixth  day, 
expect  me." 

We  see  by  the  aforesaid  that  he  was  at  this  time 
greatly  in  want  of  money,  and  that  he  was  willing  to 
resort  to  some  sacrifice  to  procure  it.  We  need  not 
wonder  at  this  when  we  consider  the  necessities  he  was 
under  for  the  discharge  of  his  debts  and  the  prepar- 
ations attending  his  return.  Respecting  Joseph 
Growdon  and  John  Swift,  he  has  reference  to  the 
Bucks  county  election.  He  was  desirous  to  have  his 
wife  and  daughter  remain  on  his  voyage,  but  he  con- 
fesses that  he  could  not  prevail  on  them  to  do  so,  and 
of  the  two,  the  latter  appears  to  have  been  the  most 
desirous  of  returning. 

A  second  letter  was  sent  the  same  day  from  Penns- 
bury,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  intend  to  go  in  the  Messen- 
ger, and  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  Assembly  is  up, 
Samuel  Carpenter,  Isaac  Norris,  Caleb  Pusey,  and 
Samuel  Jennings  talked  about  going  with  me.  Will 
it  not  devour  what  they  should  allow  me,  and  signify 
nothing  on  the  other  side.  Let  John  bring  up  my 
hair-trunk,  my  leather  stockings,  twelve  bottles  of 
Madeira  wine,  and  as  many  of  the  new  white  wine,  or 
six  apiece.  A  runnel  of  ale  from  Philadelphia  or 
Burlington  should  be  brought  us :  we  make  our  own 
small  beer.  I  think  to  be  in  town  Fifth  or  Sixth  day. 
Phineas  is  very  weak,  more  like  to  go  than  remain. 


ILLNESS    OF    PHINEAS    PEMBERTON.  343 

Tell  R.  Janney  the  young  man  can  neither  plow  nor 
mow,  but  has  been  mostly  used  to  driving,  is  ready  and 
good-natured,  but  swears."  Swearing,  it  would  seem, 
was  a  common  fault  even  then,  and  objectionable  to  the 
Governor. 

Phineas  Pemberton  is  the  person  referred  to  as  being 
so  infirm  and  who  survived  till  the  1st  of  ist  month, 
1702,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  upwards  of  fifty-two 
years.  He  was  a  useful  and  highly-esteemed  man  in 
the  colony,  and  is  deserving  of  some  additional  notice. 
He  had  been  a  grocer  at  Bolton,  Lancashire,  and  was 
married  to  Phebe,  the  daughter  of  James  Harrison, 
whose  family,  and  father  Ralph  Pemberton  accompa- 
nied him  here  in  i  ith  month,  1682.  About  a  year 
afterwards  he  purchased  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres 
in  Falls  township,  near  the  manor  of  Pennsbury,  on 
which  he  settled.  In  1687  he  erected  on  it  a  frame 
house,  and  had  cut  in  relief  on  the  oak  lintel  of  the 
door  the  letters  "  P.  P.  P.,  7d.  2  m.  1687,"  which  has 
been  duly  preserved,  and  presented  in  1876  to  the 
Historical  Society,  where  it  may  be  now  seen.  He 
enjoyed  a  number  of  offices,  and  like  his  father-in-law, 
seems  to  have  ever  retained  the  confidence  of  the 
Proprietary.  He  was  buried  in  the  family  burying 
ground  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  about  a  mile 
below  the  present  borough  of  Morrisville,  where  a 
stone  denotes  the  grave.  In  regard  to  his  death, 
Samuel  Carpenter,  the  eminent  merchant  of  Philadel- 
phia, wrote  to  Penn,  that  he  "  will  be  greatly  missed ; 


344  ^VM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

having  left  few  or  none  in  those  parts,  or  the  adjacent, 
like  him  for  wisdom  and  integrity,  and  a  general 
service;  and  he  was  a  true  friend  to  thee  and  the  Gov- 
ernment. It  is  a  matter  of  sorrow,  when  I  call  to  mind 
and  consider  that  the  best  of  our  men  are  taken 
away, — and  how  many  are  gone,  and  how  few  to 
supply  their  places."  His  descendants  are  numerous, 
and  have  been  in  Philadelphia  a  noted  family. 

Meetings  with  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia 
by  the  Governor  on  the  3d,  15th,  i6th,  17th,  20th,  23d, 
26th,  29th  and  30th.  On  the  whole,  when  we  come 
to  consider  his  labors  for  this  month  (Sept.),  there  is 
no  cause  for  surprise  at  the  astonishing  amount  of 
industry  he  has  exhibited  in  accomplishing  what  he 
did,  and  that  too  amidst  the  most  annoying  anxieties 
and  embarrassments  to  which  the  human  frame  can  be 
subject,  and  wonder  almost  how,  under  the  circum- 
stances, he  could  have  borne  up  so  well.  He  certainly 
could  not  have  been  of  a  melancholy  or  desponding 
temperament,  for  we  see  no  evidences  of  despair  or  that 
he  sought  such  companionship. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  on  the  1 5th  the 
Governor  made  to  them  a  speech  from  which  we  ex- 
tract the  leading  points  : 

'*  The  reasons  that  hasten  your  session  is  the  neces- 
sity I  am  under,  through  the  endeavors  of  the  enemies 
of  the  prosperity  of  this  country,  to  go  for  England, 
where  taking  the  advantage  of  my  absence,  some  have 
attempted   by  false  or  unreasonable  charges  to  under- 


INTERESTING   ADDRESS    TO    THE   ASSEMBLY.        345 

mine  our  Government,  and  thereby  the  true  value  of 
our  labors  and  property.  Government  having  been 
our  first  encouragement.  I  confess  I  cannot  think  of 
such  a  voyage  without  great  reluctancy  that  I  might 
stay  so  long  at  least  with  you  as  to  render  everybody 
entirely  easy  and  safe ;  for  my  heart  is  among  you  as 
well  as  my  body.  Whatever  some  people  may  please 
to  think,  and  no  unkindness  or  disappointment  shall, 
with  submission  to  God's  providence,  ever  be  able  to 
alter  my  love  to  the  country,  and  resolution  to  return 
and  settle  my  family  and  posterity  in  it.  But  having 
reason  to  believe  I  can  at  this  time  best  serve  you  and 
myself  on  that  side  of  the  water,  neither  the  rudeness 
of  the  season  nor  tender  circumstances  of  my  family 
can  over  rule  my  inclination  to  undertake  it. 

*'  Review  again  our  Laws,  propose  new  ones  that 
may  better  your  circumstances,  and  what  you  do,  do 
it  quickly,  remembering  that  the  Parliament  sits  the 
end  of  next  month,  and  that  the  sooner  I  am  there  the 
safer.  I  hope  we  shall  all  be  here.  I  must  recom- 
mend to  your  serious  thoughts  and  care  the  King's 
Letter  to  me,  for  your  assistance  o^  New  York  with 
;^350  Sterling,  as  a  frontier  Government  and  therefore 
exposed  to  a  much  greater  expense  in  proportion  to 
other  Colonies  ;  which  I  called  the  last  Assembly  to 
take  into  their  consideration,  and  they  were  pleased,  for 
the  reasons  then  given,  to  refer  to  this. 

"  I  am  also  to  tell  you  the  good  news  of  the  Gov- 
ernor   of  New  York's   happy  issue   of  his  conference 


346  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

with  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians,  that  he  hath  not 
only  made  peace  with  you  for  the  King's  subjects  of 
that  Colony,  but  as  I  had  by  some  letters  before  desired 
him,  for  those  of  all  other  governments  under  the 
Crown  of  England  on  the  continent  of  America,  as 
also  the  natives  of  Indians  within  those  respective 
Colonies,  which  certainly  merits  our  acknowledgements. 
I  have  done  when  I  have  told  you  that  unanimity  and 
despatch  are  the  life  of  business,  and  that  I  desire  and 
expect  it  from  you  for  your  own  sakes,  since  it  may  so 
much  contribute  to  the  disappointment  of  those  that 
too  long  have  taught  the  ruin  of  your  young  country." 

On  the  following  day,  while  the  Governor  was  in 
session  with  the  Council,  two  members  of  the  Assem- 
bly acquainted  him  that  they  requested  to  be  admitted 
to  his  presence,  to  which  he  agreed,  when  the  several 
members  accordingly  appeared  and  the  Speaker,  in  the 
name  of  the  House,  presented  the  following  address : 
"  May  it  please  the  Proprietary  and  Governor, 

"  We  have  this  day,  in  our  Assembly,  read  thy  speech 
yesterday  delivered  in  Council,  and  having  duly  con- 
sidered the  same,* cannot  but  be  under  a  deep  sense  of 
sorrow  for  thy  purpose  of  so  speedily  leaving  us,  and 
at  the  same  time  taking  notice  of  thy  paternal  regards 
of  us  and  our  posterity,  the  freeholders  of  this  Prov- 
ince and  Territories  annexed,  in  thy  loving  and  kind 
expressions  of  being  ready  to  comply  with  whatsoever 
expedient  and  provision  we  shall  offer  for  our  safety,  as 
well  in  privileges  as   property,  and  what  else  may  ren- 


NOTICE  OF  JOSEPH  GROWDON.         347 

der  us  happy  in  a  nearer  union  of  our  interests,  not 
doubting  the  performance  of  what  thou  hast  been 
pleased  so  lovingly  to  promise,  do  in  much  humility, 
and  as  a  token  of  our  gratitude  render  unto  thee  the 
unfeigned  thanks  of  the  House. 

"  Subscribed  by  order  of  the  House,  Joseph  Grow- 
don.  Speaker." 

To  which  the  Governor  made  answer :  "  That 
every  word  of  his  speech  was  written  in  his  heart, 
and  he  should  use  his  utmost  endeavors  to  make  it 
all  good,  to  which  he  desired  their  assistance,  and  that 
they  would  proceed,  in  order  to  it,  with  all  expedi- 
tion." 

On- the  20th,  he  wrote  to  Col.  Depeister  of  New 
York,  "  I  have  another  grant  to  show  them,' and  if  not 
an  account  of  disbursements  in  defence  of  the  King's 
title  against  Lord  Baltimore  as  well  as  that  I  am  not  in 
full  possession  till  the  Line  be  run  which  from  time  to 
time  I  have  prest  at  home  and  here  upon  him  and  his 
agents.  For  an  answer  I  will  wait  upon  them  God 
willing  in  England  within  three  or  four  months,  and  I 
presume  to  their  satisfaction." 

On  the  same  day  the  Assembly  presented  an  address 
to  the  Governor  concerning  property,  which  was  signed 
by  Joseph  Growdon  as  Speaker.  To  which  he  replied 
at  some  length,  but  contains  nothing  of  particular  im- 
portance. It  may  be  seen  in  full  in  the  Appendix 
(vol.  II,  pp.  40-4)  of  Proud's  History. 

Isaac  Norris  addressed  a  letter  from  Philadelphia  on 


348  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  26th  to  his  fritnd  Daniel  Zachary  of  Boston,  in 
which  he  states,  "Our  Assembly  still  sits;  and  my 
time  almost  taken  up,  that  I  am  quite  weary  of  state 
affairs.  Judge  Guest  is  made  our  chief  judge,  upon 
which  Judge  Growdon  would  not  act  as  his  inferior." 
Joseph  Growdon  was  a  man  of  distinguished  attain- 
ments, and  resided  in  Bensalem,  Bucks  county.  He 
was  the  owner  of  nearly  half  of  said  township,  and  of 
whom  Gabriel  Thomas  in  1696,  states  that  he  "  hath  a 
very  noble  and  fine  house,  very  pleasantly  situated,  and 
likewise  a  famous  orchard,  wherein  are  contained 
above  a  thousand  apple  trees."  Oldmixon  in  1708, 
pays  him  the  compliment  of  having  been  "  very  in- 
strumental in  planting  and  settling  this  county,  for 
which,  and  many  others  things,  it  is  very  much  in- 
debted to  his  care  and  services."  He  was  a  Friend 
and  came  from  Cornwall,  and  settled  here  about  1683. 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  an  independent  turn 
of  mind,  and  after  the  aforesaid  appointment  was  made 
exhibited  a  coldness  towards  the  Proprietary.  He 
died  in  1730,  leaving  three  children,  Joseph,  Lawrence 
and  Hannah. 


THE   ASSEMBLY    NOT    HARMONIOUS.  349 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

THE    ASSEMBLY     NOT    HARMONIOUS. A    DELEGATION    OF 

INDIANS  COME  TO  BID  THE  GOVERNOR  FAREWELL. 

MARRIA(;E  in  the  olden  time,  with  SOME 

ACCOUNT  OF   JOHN    SOTCHER. THE  GER- 
MAN   PURCHASE. 

{^October  1-17,  ^701.'] 

The  Assembly,  which  had  been  called  by  the  Pj  o- 
prietary  on  the  15th  of  7th  month,  still  continued  in 
session,  whose  proceedings  were  anything  but  harmo- 
nious, and  respecting  whom  Isaac  Norris,  in  a  letter  to 
Daniel  Zachary,  dated  the  3d  of  the  present  (8th) 
month,  writes,  "  Our  Assembly  still  sits,  and  little 
done.  They  are  now  worse  than  ever,  believing  them- 
selves sure  of  the  government  change.  Their  endeav- 
ors, I  mean  the  lower  county  members  and  our  mal- 
contents here,  to  leave  us,  if  possible,  without  laws  or 
liberties — oppose  anything  that  we  offer  for  our  settle- 
ment. Our  Governor  is  much  grieved  at  this  parting 
carriage  of  the  people.  I  know  not  how  things  will 
end,  but  at  present  they  have  a  very  ill  usage." 

Meetings  with  the  Council  were  held  in  Philadelphia 


350  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

by  the  Governor  on  the  6th,  7th,  9th,  loth,  13th,  14th 
and  15th  of  October.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  7th, 
the  Sachems  of  the  Susquehanna  and  Shavvanese 
Indians,  with  several  others,  came  to  the  Council  to 
take  leave  of  the  Proprietary  before  his  departure  for 
England. 

He  informed  them  that  this  now  was  like  to  be  his 
last  interview  with  them,  at  least  before  his  return;  that 
he  had  ever  loved  and  been  kind  to  them  and  ever 
should  continue  so  to  be, — not  through  any  political  de- 
sign or  interest,  but  one  of  real  affection,  and  desired 
them  in  his  absence  to  cultivate  friendship  with  those 
he  would  leave  behind  in  authority,  as  they  would  al- 
ways, in .  some  degree,  continue  to  be  to  them  as  him- 
self had  ever  been.  The  Governor  also  informed  them 
that  the  Assembly  was  now  enacting  a  law,  according  to 
their  desire,  to  prevent  their  being  abused  by  the  sell- 
ing of  rum,  with  which  Orettyagh,  one  of  the  Sachems, 
in  the  name  of  the  rest,  expressed  a  great  satisfaction, 
and  desired  that  that  law  might  effectually  be  put  in 
execution,  and  not  only  discoursed  of  as  formerly;  for 
they  had  long  suffered  by  the  practice  but  now  hoped 
for  a  redress,  and  that  they  should  have  reason  to  com- 
plain no  more. 

And  for  the  more  effectually  answering  so  good  a 
design,  the  Governor  desired  that  whenever  any  trans- 
gressed the  said  law,  and  came  contrary  amongst  them, 
to  agreement  they  would  forthwith  take  care  to  give 
information  thereof  to  the  Government,  that  the  offen- 


INDIANS    BID    THE    GOVERNOR    FAREWELL.  35  I 

ders  might  be  duly  prosecuted  ;  which  they  promised 
to  observe,  and  that  if  any  rum  were  brought  they 
would  not  buy  it,  but  send  the  person  who  brought  it 
back  with  it  again.  Then  the  Governor  informed  them 
that  he  had  charged  the  Members  of  Council,  and  then 
renewed  the  same  charge,  that  they  should  in  all  re- 
spects be  kind  to  them,  and  entertain  them  with  all 
courtesy  and  demonstrations  of  good  will  as  he  him- 
self had  ever  done,  which  the  said  members  promised 
faithfully  to  observe  ;  and  making  them  some  presents, 
they  withdrew. 

John  Richardson,  a  travelling  Friend  from  England, 
arrived  in  Maryland  the  6th  of  ist  month,  1701,  and 
remained  in  this  country  till  the  6th  of  9th  month, 
1702,  when  he  sailed  for  Barbadoes  and  thence  to  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  died  in  1753  in  his  87th 
year.  He  wrote  an  account  of  his  life  and  travels, 
published  in  "  Friends'  Library"  (vol.  IV.,  pp.  96,  7, 
for  1 840,  Phila.),  from  which  we  extract  that  portion 
that  relates  to  the  aforesaid  meeting  of  the  Governor 
and  Council  with  the  Indians,  which  by  Watson  in  his 
Annals,  and  one  or  two  other  writers,  has  been  erro- 
neously stated  to  have  taken  place  at  Pennsbury. 

"  Much  of  the  other  part  of  the  time  I  spent  in  see- 
ing, to  my  satisfaction,  William  Penn  and  many  of  the 
Indians,  not  the  least  of  them,  in  council  concerning 
their  former  covenants,  now  again  revived  by  his  going 
away  for  England  ;  all  which  was  done  in  much  calm- 
ness of  temper,  and  in  an  amicable  way.     To  pass  by 


352  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

several  particulars,  I  may  mention  the  following  :  They 
never  first  broke  covenant  with  any  people  ;  for,  as  one 
of  them  said,  smiting  his  hand  upon  his  head  three 
times,  they  did  not  make  them  there  in  their  heads, 
but  smiting  his  hand  three  times  on  his  breast,  said, 
they  made  them  there  in  their  hearts.  When  they 
had  ended  the  most  weighty  parts  for  which  they  held 
their  council,  William  Penn  gave  them  match-coats 
and  some  other  things  ;  which  the  speaker  for  the  In- 
dians advised  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  one  of  their 
Kings,  for  he  knew  best  how  to  order  them.  I  ob- 
served, and  also  heard  the  like  from  others,  that  they 
did  not  speak  two  at  a  time,  nor  interfere  in  the  least 
one  with  another  that  way  in  their  councils.  Their 
eating  and  drinking  was  also  in  much  stillness. 

"  After  William  Penn  and  they  had  expressed  their 
satisfaction,  both  for  themselves  and  their  people,  in 
keeping  all  their  former  articles  inviolate,  and 
agreed  that  if  any  differences  happened  amongst  any 
of  their  people,  they  should  not  be  an  occasion  of 
fomenting  or  creating  any  war  between  the  people  and 
the  Indians,  but  justice  should  be  done  in  all  such 
cases,  that  all  animosities  might  be  prevented  on  all 
sides  for  ever.  They  went  out  of  the  house  into  an 
open  place  not  far  from  it,  to  perform  their  worship, 
which  was  done  thus  :  First,  they  made  a  small  fire, 
and  the  men  without  the  women  sat  down  about  it  in 
a  ring,  and  they  sang  a  very  melodious  hymn,  which 
affected  and   tendered  the  hearts  of  many  who  were 


INDIANS    BID    THE    GOVERNOR    FAREWELL.         353 

spectators.  When  they  had  thus  done,  they  began  to 
beat  upon  the  ground  with  little  sticks,  or  make  some 
motion  with  something  in  their  hands,  and  pause  a 
little,  till  one  of  the  elder  sort  sets  forth  his  hymn, 
followed  by  the  company  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then 
a  pause ;  and  the  like  was  done  by  another,  and  so  by 
a  third,  and  followed  by  the  company  as  at  first;  which 
seemed  exceedingly  to  affect  them  and  others.  Hav- 
ing done,  they  rose  up  and  danced  >a  little  about  the 
fire,  and  parted  with  some  shouting  like  rejoicing." 

On  the  loth  the  members  of  Assembly  met  in  con- 
ference with  the  Governor.  He  embraced  the  occasion 
to  let  them  know  that  he  had  further  considered  the 
bill  against  selling  rum  to  the  Indians,  and  desired  that 
they  would  admit  in  it  the  evidence  of  the  Indians, 
without  which  the  design  of  the  act  would  be  eluded; 
and  that  though  they  were  not  under  the  same 
conscientious  obligation  as  Christians  are  to  speak 
the  truth,  yet  they  might  be  obliged  to  do  it 
through  the  dread  of  some  punishment  to  be  inflicted 
in  case  of  their  giving  false  evidence.  He  also  pro- 
posed to  the  Assembly  to  consider  of  some  fit  persons 
to  be  appointed  by  him  to  represent  him  in  the  Gov- 
ernment during  his  absence.  He  informed  them  that 
he  had  written  several  months  ago  to  his  son,  recom- 
mending for  the  King's  approbation  as  deputy  Gover- 
nor, Col.  Andrew  Hamilton,  the  present  Governor  of 
East  and  West  New  Jersey. 

23 


354  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

It  has  been  the  fortune  of  the  writer  at  various 
places  to  meet  with  original  documents  respecting  John 
Sotcher  and  Mary  Lofty,  the  steward  and  stewardess  of 
Pennsbury,  especially  relating  to  their  marriage,  and 
as  an  olden  time  affair  have  concluded  to  be  pretty 
full  therein,  thus  showing  better  the  changes  that  have 
since  taken  place,  even  among  so  staid  a  people  as  the 
Society  of  Friends.  From  letters  addressed  by 
Hannah  Penn  to  her  father,  Thomas  Callowhill,  we 
know  that  this  marriage,  at  least,  had  been  in  contem- 
plation as  early  as  in  the  previous  summer,  for  on  the 
17th  and  2 2d  of  6th  month  she  wrote  respecting  it, 
and  desiring  him  to  procure  a  certificate  of  Mary 
Lofty's  clearness  in  relation  to  the  matter  from  the 
Meeting  she  had  belonged  to  in  the  city  of  Bristol. 
Which  however  was  not  granted  till  the  3d  of  9th 
month  following  and  forwarded  the  next  day,  when  the 
marriage  had  been  accomplished  two  weeks  and  a  half 
The  result  was  in  consequence  a  stricter  inquiry  than 
usual  of  both  parties  in  this  respect  by  the  Meeting 
here.  The  affair  being  hurried  on  account  of  the  Pro- 
prietary and  his  family  leaving  in  a  few  weeks  for 
England,  and  who  desired  to  be  present  at  its  con- 
summation. 

From  the  minutes  of  Falls  Monthly  Meeting  we 
learn  that  on  the  4th  of  7th  month,  1701,  John 
Sotcher  made  known  his  intentions  of  taking  Mary 
Lofty  for  his  wife,  when  Joseph  Kirkbride  and  Sarah 
Sirket  were  appointed  to  examine  as  to  their  clearness 


MARRIAGE    IN   THE    OLDEN    TIME.  355 

and  report  at  the  meeting.  Penn  was  present  at  the 
latter  and  stated  that  he  proposed  to  leave  them  in 
charge  of  Pennsbury,  and  as  the  season  hurried  his 
departure,  he  desired  to  see  the  marriage  accom- 
plished before  his  return.  The  Meeting  adjourned  one 
week,  to  give  the  committee  further  time  to  examine 
and  report  on  the  subject.  At  the  Monthly  Meeting 
held  on  the  8th  of  8th  month  a  favorable  report  was 
made,  and  at  which  also  a  recommendation  was  read 
from  the  Governor  and  his  wife,  when  consent  was 
given  for  the  marriage.  Phineas  Pemberton,  Joseph 
Kirkbride,  Richard  Hough  and  Samuel  Dark  were  ap- 
pointed to  draw  up  the  certificate. 

From  the  minutes  of  Council  we  learn  that  "  The 
Governor,  having  divers  affairs  to  settle  in  his 
family  at  Pennsbury,  went  up  thither  on  the  i6th  of 
October,  and  did  not  return  till  the  2ist  instant."  As 
the  marriage  took  place  on  the  i6th  at  the  Falls 
Meeting  house,  it  is  quite  likely  that  Penn  must  have 
left  Philadelphia  quite  early  in  the  morning  to  have 
been  there  in  time,  unless  it  took  place  in  the  afternoon. 
Amongst  the  strangers  present  were  Jennings,  Logan, 
Langdale,  Gove,  Shippen  and  Warder.  The  following 
is  a  verbatim  copy  of  the  marriage  certificate  in  which 
the  name  appears  and  is  signed  Satcher,  though  we 
have  concluded  to  follow  the  common  style,  which  was 
always  thus  spelled  by  Penn.  It  being  a  general  fault 
in  those  days  to  spell  names  variously,  as  may  be  seen 
in  several  instances  in  this  work,  which  is  often  per- 
plexing to  writers  on  this  period. 


356  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"  Whereas  John  Satcher  of  Pensberrie  in  ye  County 
of  Bucks  and  Province  of  Pencilvania,  Cordwainer  and 
Mary  Loftis  of  ye  same  place,  county  and  province, 
Spinster  having  intentions  of  taking  each  other  in  mar- 
ryage  did  pubHsh  ye  same  before  severale  Publick 
meetings  of  ye  people  of  God,  called  Quakers  as  also 
made  Legale  Publication  thereof 

"  Now  These  are  to  Certifie  all  whom  it  may  con- 
cern that  after  deliberate  Consideration  and  Consent  of 
Parties  Concerned  and  approbation  of  ye  said  meet- 
ings, upon  ye  sixteenth  day  of  ye  Eighth  month  Ano. 
Dom.  One  thousand  Seven  hundred  &  one  they  ye 
said  John  Satcher  and  Mary  Loftis  appeared  in  a  pub- 
lic and  solemn  assembly  of  ye  afforesaid  people  met 
together  for  that  end  and  purpose  at  their  usual  meet- 
ing House  in  ye  falls  Township  in  ye  aforesaid  County 
and  province,  and  then  and  there  ye  said  John  Satcher 
taking  ye  said  Mary  Loftis  by  ye  hand  did  openly  de- 
clare that  he  took  ye  said  Mary  to  be  his  wife  and  also 
did  promise  to  be  unto  her  a  faithful  and  loving  hus- 
band untill  death  should  separate  them.  And  in  like 
manner  ye  said  Mary  Loftis  did  then  and  there  openly 
declare  that  she  did  take  ye  said  John  Satcher  to  be 
her  husband  and  did  likewise  promise  to  be  unto  him 
a  faithful  and  loving  wife  untill  death  shall  separate 
them. 

"  Moreover  ye  said  John  Satcher  and  Mary  Loftis 
(She  according  to  ye  custom  of  marryage  assuming 
her  husband's  name)  as  a  further  confirmation  thereof, 


MARRIAGE    IN    THE   OLDEN    TIME.  35/ 

at  ye  aforesaid  time  and  place  to  these  presents  set 
their  hands  and  we  whose  names  are  here  under  Sub- 
scribed being  pressent  amongst  others  at  ye  solemniza- 
tion &  subscription  of  ye  said  marriage  as  witnesses 
thereunto  have  likewise  set  our  hands  ye  day  &  year 
above  Written. 

John  Satcher, 
Mary  Satcher. 

"  Wm.  Penn,  Sol.  Jennings,  Phineas  Pemberton, 
Joseph  Kirkbride,  Josiah  Langdale,  Rich'd  Gove,  Jos. 
Shippen,  Solomon  Warder,  Wm.  Macket,  Richard  Cook, 
Rich'd  Hough,  James  Logan,  Peter  Worrall,  Job  Bunt- 
ing, Wm.  Biles,  Jr.,  Saml.  Burges,  John  Burges,  Edw'd 
Kempe,  Elliza.  Brock,  Sarah  Sirket,  Rebeckah  Richard- 
son, Abigail  Pemberton,  Ann  Murray,  Joan  Humphrey, 
Hannah  Penn,  Lettitia  Penn,  Margery  Hough,  Mary 
Warder,  Junr.,  Rachell  Bunting,  Phebe  Baker." 

We  also  give  a  copy  of  the  certificate  of  clear- 
ness to  which  we  have  alluded  as  forwarded  by 
Thomas  Callowhill  in  a  letter  to  his  daughter, 
which  was  addressed,  "  William  Penn,  Esq.  Pro- 
prietor &  Governor  of  Pensilvania  for  H.  P.  Or 
if  Absent  for  James  Logan  or  Thomas  Storie  for 
M.  L."  The  said  initials  standing  for  Hannah  Penn 
and  Mary  Lofty.  By  absence  is  meant  the  departure 
of  the  Proprietary  and  his  family  for  England,  which 
by  said  letter  it  appears  they  expected.  This  certificate 
did  not  come  to  hand  probably  for  two  months  after 
the  marriage. 


358  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"To  our  Friends  and  Brethren  in  the  Province  of 
Pensylvania  and  whomsoever  else  it  doth  or  may  con- 
cern. 

"  Mary  J.oafty  formerly  of  this  City  now  of  Pensyl- 
vania having  signified  unto  us  her  inclination  to  join 
in  Marriage  there  and  requested  a  Certificate  of  her 
Clearness  here  whilst  with  us,  she  lived  soberly  and 
was  of  orderly  conversation  and  upon  due  inquiry 
do  not  find  but  that  she  is  free  and  clear  from  all 
parties  here  in  relation  to  Marriage  which  we  certify 
from  our  Men's  Meeting  in  the  City  of  Bristol  this 
Third  day  of  the  Ninth  month  1701.  Signed  in  and 
on  behalf  of  the  Meeting  by  Richard  Sneade,  Thomas 
Callowhill,  Charles  Jones,  Benja.  Coole,  Joshua  Cart, 
Jeffr.  Pennell,  Arthur  Thomas,  Samuel  Cox,  Tho. 
Bayly,  Waltr.  Kippen,  Alex.  Arscott." 

John  and  Mary  Sotcher  had  four  children,  Hannah 
born  25th  of  i  ith  month,  1702,  and  married  in  1720 
to  Joseph  Kirkbride ;  Mary  born  in  1 704,  and  married 
in  1724  to  Mahlon  Kirkbride;  Robert  born  3d  of  9th 
month,  1706,  and  Ann  born  in  17 10  and  married  in 
1728  to  Mark  Watson.  The  late  Anthony  Burton, 
long  President  of  the  Farmer's  Bank  of  Bristol,  was  a 
descendant. 

In  May,  1701,  the  Proprietary  sent  John  Sotcher 
and  Edward  Farmer  as  agents  to  proceed  to  the  Lehigh 
river  and  enquire  into  a  disturbance  that  had  occurred 
there  amongst  the  Indians,  and  also  as  to  their  inten- 
tions.      In    1722   he  represented  Bucks  county  in  the 


THE   GERMAN    PURCHASE.  359 

Assembly,  and  died  the  19th  of  i  ith  month,  1729. 
When  Penn  had  embarked  on  board  the  ship  Dobna-, 
hoy,  the  3d  of  November,  1701,  in  parting  there  with 
his  Secretary  James  Logan,  impressed  him  to  "  Re- 
member J.  Sotcher  and  Pennsbury ;  "  meaning  not  to 
forget  in  his  correspondence  to  inform  him  about 
them. 

Respecting  the  aforesaid,  Logan  wrote  sometime 
after  7th  month,  1704,  that  "Though  there  were  forty 
acres  cleared  at  Pennsbury  at  thy  going  off,  there  was 
but  little  fit  for  immediate  service.  John  Sotcher  has 
now  cleared,  I  suppose,  forty  acres  since  and  it  is  re- 
solved to  make  it  pay  for  itself,  though  he  has  not 
hitherto  been  able  to  do  it. — They  misinform  who  say 
the  place  goes  to  ruin.  John  and  Mary  are  as  good 
servants  as  any  in  America,  but  will  not  stay  upon  it 
unless  thou  designs  over  quickly.  She  has  two  little 
children, — are  healthy  and  not  troublesome.  The 
garden,  it  is  true,  is  not  cultivated  ;  nor  is  there  any 
reason  it  should  in  your  absence.  All  or  most  of 
the  parterres  are  dead  by  blasting." 

At  the  close  of  Chapter  XXVI.,  mention  is  made  of 
several  pamphlets  having  been  printed  in  Germany  in 
1700  to  encourage  emigration  to  Pennsylvania.  This 
was  chiefly  done  under  the  auspices  of  the  Frankfort 
Land  Company,  organized  as  early  as  1682,  who  at 
various  times  thereafter  took  up  large  tracts  to  dispose 
of  to  their  countrymen  in  smaller  quantities,  and  thus 
induce  them  for  their  mutual  benefit  to  settle  together. 


360  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

The  agents  of  the  company  having  made  the  requisite 
arrangements  with  the  Proprietary  for  a  later  and  more 
extensive  purchase,  who  hereupon  issued  the  following 
order : 

"  Whereas  by  my  Warrant  bearing  date  the  26th  of 
7th  month,  1 70 1,  I  required  thee  to  lay  out  for  the 
German  Company  of  Purchasers  22025  acres  of  Land 
fronting  the  River  Schuylkill  the  breadth  of  about  600 
perches  and  whereas  the  said  Germans  have  requested 
that  I  would  further  Grant  that  their  said  Front  should 
extend  downwards  about  100  perches  and  terminating 
below  a  small  Rocky  run  falling  into  the  said  River. 
These  therefore  are  to  require  thee  to  make  returns  of 
the  said  Tract  according  to  their  request  together  with 
the  Islands  opposite  to  the  said  Front  in  the  River 
Schuylkill,  lying  on  the  East  side  of  the  Channel, 
for  which  this  shall  be  thy  authority.  Given  under  my 
Hand,  14th,  8  ber,  1701. 

"Wm.  Penn. 
"  To  Edward  Penington,  Surveyor  General." 

According  to  a  Warrant  from  the  hand  and  seal 
of  the  Proprietary,  date  26th  of  7th  month,  1701,  and 
also  14th  of  8th  month,  1701,  Edward  Penington, 
Surveyor  General,  certifies  that  he  has  surveyed  to 
Daniel  Falkner,  agent  for  the  German  Company  of 
Purchasers,  in  right  of  their  former  purchases  made  of 
the  Proprietary  and  Governor,  a  tract  in  Philadelphia 
County,  near  the  Mahanatawny  creek  on  the  Schuyl- 
kill, amounting  to  22,377  acres;  beginning  at  a  marked 


THE   GERMAN    PURCHASE.  36 1 

hickory,  standing  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  run  about 
120  perches  distant  from  Mahanatawny  creek,  from 
thence  by  the  several  courses  of  the  river  Schuylkill, 
the  several  distances  on  the  said  several  courses 
amounting  to  1,288  perches  to  a  marked  corner  tree 
standing  by  the  side  of  a  rocky  run,  falling  into  the 
said  river,  from  thence  by  a  line  of  marked  trees  and 
vacant  land  north-east  3,846  perches  to  a  hickory,  from 
thence  north-west  by  vacant  land  940  perches  to  a 
post  standing  near  a  marked  hickory,  from  thence  west 
50  degrees  south  by  the  Proprietary's  and  Governor's 
land  4,360  perches  to  the  first  mentioned  hickory, 
containing  22,377  acres.  The  Warrant  aforesaid  order- 
ing 22,025  acres  to  be  laid  out,  and  the  order  allowing 
a  certain  bend  in  the  aforesaid  river  Schuylkill  to  be 
added,  supposed  to  contain  about  180  acres,  but  is 
found  to  add  to  the  said  22,025  acres  the  quantity  of 
352  acres,  which  added  together  makes  the  tract 
amount  to  the  number  of  acres  first  above  mentioned. 
Surveyed  the  13th  of  8th  month,  1701.  Returned 
according  to  the  above  said  survey  and  bounds  unto 
the  Proprietary  and  Governor's  Secretary's  ofifice,  2 1  st 
of  8th  month,  1701. 

Edward  Penington,  Surveyor  General. 

The  above  tract  lay  adjoining  the  east  side  of  John 
Penn's  grant,  mentioned  in  the  next  chapter.  The 
present  borough  of  Pottstown  is  situated  on  the  line, 
and  whose   territory  was    taken    nearly  equally  from 


362  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

those  two  tracts.  This  German  purchase  comprised 
considerable  of  Pottsgrove,  the  whole  of  New  Hanover, 
besides  some  additional  territory  in  the  adjoining 
townships.  This  will  explain  how  the  early  settlers 
there  were  nearly  all  Germans. 


PHILADELPHIA    INCORPORATED    A    CITY.  363 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

PHILADELPHIA     INCORPORATED    A    CITY. THE    SWEDISH 

PURCHASE    AT    MORLATTON. THE    PROPRIETARY 

MAKES    ADDITIONAL    PROVISION    FOR    HIS 

CHILDREN. THE  NEW  CHARTER  OF 

PRIVILEGES. MAKES  HIS  WILL 

AT  NEW  CASTLE. ARRIVES 

SAFELY    IN    ENGLAND. 

{October  18— January,  1701.'] 

The  Governor  returned  from  Pennsbury  on  the  2 1  st 
of  8th  month,  1701,  and  held  meetings  with  the  Coun- 
cil in  Philadelphia  on  the  22d,  23d,  24th,  25th  and 
28th,  during  which  time  very  important  business  was 
transacted  and  which  necessarily  kept  him  unusually 
busy.  On  the  25th  he  signed  the  Charter  for  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  the  whole  of  which  may  be  seen  in 
Proud's  History  (vol.  II.,  pp.  534,  Appendix),  and 
wherein  we  find  the  following  extract :  "  That  at  the 
humble  request  of  the  inhabitants  and  settlers  of  this 
town  of  Philadelphia,  being  some  of  the  first  adventurers 
and  purchasers  within  this  province,  for  their  encour- 


364  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

agement,  and  for  the  immediate  and  entire  government 
of  the  said  town,  and  better  regulation  of  trade  therein, 
I  have,  by  virtue  of  the  King's  letters  patent,  under  the 
great  seal  of  England,  erected  said  town  into  a  borough, 
and  by  these  presents  do  erect  the  said  town  and  bor- 
ough of  Philadelphia  into  a  city;  which  said  city  shall 
extend  the  limits  and  bounds,  as  it  is  laid  out  between 
Delaware  and  Schuylkill." 

By  the  same  two  market  days  were  allowed  to  be 
held  each  week,  to  be  on  Fourth  and  Seventh  days, 
and  two  fairs  every  year,  one  to  begin  the  i6th  of  3d 
month,  called  May,  the  other  on  the  i6th  of  9th  month, 
and  each  to  be  for  two  days.  "  And  I  do  hereby  grant," 
says  Penn,  "  that  all  the  vacant  land  within  the  bounds 
and  limits  of  the  said  city  shall  remain  open,  as  a  free 
common,  or  pasture,  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  city,  until  the  same  shall  be  gradually  taken 
in,  in  order  to  build  or  improve  thereon,  and  not  other- 
wise." He  appointed  Edward  Shippen,  mayor,  Thomas 
Story,  recorder,  Thomas  Farmer,  sheriff  and  Robert 
Asheton,  clerk  of  the  courts.  It  will  be  observed  by 
the  aforesaid,  that  previously  the  city  had  been  an  in- 
corporated town  or  borough,  but  now  for  its  better 
government  and  regulation  was  allowed  much  more 
extensive  privileges. 

On  the  1 8th  the  Governor  addressed  a  letter  to 
Lieut.-Gov.  Nanfan,  of  New  York,  in  respect  to  the 
dilatory  action  of  the  Assembly  in  not  voting  supplies 
for  the.  defence  of  that  colony.     "  Yet,"  he  says,  ''they 


THE   SWEDISH    PURCHASE.  365 

could  not  be  prevailed  with  to  think  of  any  supply  for 
the  Fort,  being  extremely  in  arrears  to  the  public,  and 
the  Lower  Counties  very  poor  and  long  indebted  to 
the  merchants,  and  their  staple,  tobacco,  none  of  the 
best  and  never  lower."  No  doubt  the  Assembly  was 
scrupulous  on  this  matter,  but  on  which  the  Proprietary 
had  fully  committed  himself  and  now  endeavored  to 
palliate  for  their  neglect. 

The  descendants  of  some  of  the  early  Swedish  set- 
tlers below  Philadelphia  being  desirous  of  removing 
further  up  the  country  and  found  a  colony  near  the 
head  of  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Schuylkill,  in  con- 
sequence availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  whilst 
Penn  was  still  in  the  country  to  make  a  considerable 
purchase.  For  this  purpose  they  selected  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Rudman,  their  minister  in  Philadelphia  and 
provost  of  the  Swedish  church,  to  act  as  their  chief 
agent.  Satisfactory  arrangements  having  been  made, 
the  following  instructions  were  issued : 

William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  counties  annexed.  At  the  request  of 
Andreas  Rudman,  Clerk,  on  behalf  of  himself  and  sev- 
eral of  his  countrymen  the  Swedes,  the  old  inhabitants 
of  this  province  desires  to  make  a  new  settlement  that 
I  would  grant  him  to  take  up  Ten  Thousand  acres  of 
Land  on  the  River  Schuylkill  near  Manatawny  Creek. 
These  are  to  require  thee  forthwith  to  survey  and  lay 
out  or  cause  to  be  laid  out  to  the  said  Andreas  for  the 
uses  aforesaid  according  to  the  method  of  Townships 


366  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

by  me  appointed  the  said,  number  of  Ten  Thousand 
acres  of  land  at  the  yearly  rent  of  one  bushel  of  wheat 
per  hundred  acres.  Beginning  about  six  hundred 
perches  in  a  direct  line  up  the  River  Schuylkill  above 
the  German's  upper  line  and  going  ten  miles  backwards 
from  the  River  with  the  said  German's  Land,  or  in  case 
the  said  place  shall  not  appear  convenient  for  them  then 
to  lay  out  the  said  number  of  acres  for  the  uses  afore- 
said in  any  other  place  afore  described  and  make  re- 
turns not  only  of  the  whole  tract  but  of  the  several 
subdivisions  thereof  from  time  to  time  as  they  shall  be 
made  unto  my  Secretary's  office.  Given  under  my 
Hand  and  Seal  at  Philadelphia  the  21st  of  8ber,  1701. 

WM.  PENN, 
To  Edward  Penington,  Surveyor  General. 

This  purchase  led  to  the  Morlatton  settlement,  on 
which  St.  Gabriel's  church  was  finished  in  1737,  at  the 
present  Douglasville,  Berks  county.  Among  those 
early  settlers  here  can  be  mentioned  Marcus  Hulings, 
Jonas  Jones,  Mounce  Jones,  Jonas  Yocum,  and  several 
of  the  name  of  Anderson,  Kerst  and  Kerlin. 

As  is  well  known  amidst  all  his  pecuniary  embarrass- 
ments Penn  continued  an  indulgent  parent,  and  before 
his  departure  concluded  to  make  some  additional  pro- 
vision for  his  children.  On  the  24th  of  this  (Oct.) 
month  conveyed  to  his  daughter  Letitia  the  manor  of 
Mount  Joy,  containing  7,800  acres,  located  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Schuylkill,  adjoining  the  Welsh  tract  in  the 
present  Montgomery  county  and  a  little  south  of  Val- 


PROVISION    FOR    HIS    CHILDREN.  36/ 

ley  Forge.  This  grant  included  "all  the  powers  of 
court  baron,  court  leet  and  frankplege."  Oldmixon  in 
his  British  Empire  in  America,  published  in  1 708,  says 
that  the  first  limestone  dug  in  America  was  on  this 
manor.  On  the  following  day  he  conveyed  to  his  in- 
fant son  not  yet  two  years  old  a  tract  of  12,000  acres 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Schuylkill  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
present  borough  of  Pottstown.  This  was  retained  by 
the  said  John  Penn  till  June  20th,  1735,  when  he  sold 
it  to  George  McCall  of  Philadelphia  for  2,000  guineas, 
or  in  our  present  currency  $9,333,  and  on  a  resurvey 
was  found  to  contain  14,060  acres.  On  the  same  day 
also  bestowed  on  the  said  son  the  manor  of  Perkasie 
of  10,000  acres  in  the  present  township  of  Rockhill, 
Bucks  county.  These  were  to  be  held  in  trust  by  Sam- 
uel Carpenter,  Edward  Penington  and  Isaac  Norris  till 
he  attained  his  majority. 

On  the  27th  Isaac  Norris  acMressed  a  letter  to  Jef- 
frey Pennell,  a  Friend  residing  in  the  city  of  Bristol, 
wherein  he  says  that  "  This  comes  by  our  Proprietor 
and  Governor,  Penn,  who,  with  his  family,  are  under- 
taking this  hazardous  voyage  at  too  hard  a  season.  I 
earnestly  desire  and  pray  for  their  preservation  and 
safety — him  we  shall  want.  The  unhappy  misunder- 
standings in  some,  and  unwarranted  opposition  in  oth- 
ers, have  been  a  block  to  our  plenary  comforts  in  him, 
and  his  own  quiet ;  but  these  things  are  externals  only. 
Our  communion  in  the  church  sweetens  all,  and  our 
inward  waitings  and  worships  together  have  often  been 


368  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

a  general  comfort  and  consolation  ;  and  in  this  I  take 
a  degree  of  satisfaction,  after  all,  that  we  part  in  love  ; 
and  some  of  his  last  words,  in  our  meeting  yesterday, 
were,  *  That  he  looked  over  all  infirmities  and  out- 
wards, and  had  an  eye  to  the  regions  of  spirits,  wherein 
was  our  surest  tie  ; '  and  in  true  love,  there  he  took 
leave  of  us.  His  excellent  wife — and  she  is  beloved  by 
all,  I  believe  I  may  say  in  its  full  extent ;  so  is  her 
leaving  us  heavy,  and  of  real  sorrow  to  her  friends — 
she  has  carried  under  and  through  all  with  a  wonder- 
ful evenness,  humility,  and  freedom  ;  her  sweetness  and 
goodness  have  become  her  character,  and  are,  I  believe 
extraordinary.  In  short  we  love  her,  and  she  deserves 
it."  We  learn  from  the  aforesaid  that  Penn  had  at- 
tended meeting  on  the  26th  in  the  city,  and  had 
preached  on  the  occasion  and  had  taken  his  leave  of 
the  congregation. 

The  warrant  to  run  the  line  between  Chester  and 
New  Castle  counties  was  signed  by  the  Governor  on 
the  28th.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  famous 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  and  separating  Pennsylvania 
from  the  Territories,  as  the  three  lower  counties  were 
called,  now  constituting  the  state  of  Delaware.  The 
said  warrant  directed  that  it  should  be  made  **  By  a 
circular  line  extending  according  to  ye  King's  Letters 
Pattents  and  Deeds  of  Enfoeffment  from  the  Duke  for 
ye  same,  and  ye  sd  circular  line  to  be  well  marked 
two-thirds  part  of  ye  semicircle." 

However  among  the  most  important   matters   was 


NEW    CHARTER    OF    PRIVILEGES.  369 

the  signing  on  the  28th  of  the  new  Charter  of  Privi- 
leges for  the  Province,  which  was  the  third  Frame  of 
Government  adopted.  The  first  was  made  in  England 
April  25th,  1682,  and  the  second  April  2d,  1683.  The 
present  one  continued  in  force  till  into  the  Revolution, 
when  it  was  entirely  supplanted  by  a  State  Constitu- 
tion. Of  this  Charter  it  becomes  us  now  to  dwell,  for 
compared  to  the  previous  ones  as  respects  privileges 
the  people  were  considerably  the  losers,  while  the  Pro- 
prietary rights  were  greatly  strengthened.  The 
Council  or  what  we  might  call  the  Senate,  were  no 
longer  elective,  the  Proprietary  had  now  the  power  to 
select  and  dismiss  them  at  his  pleasure  and  without 
any  restriction  as  to  their  number.  The  Governor  had 
also  the  power  to  restrain  the  Assembly  in  the  passage 
of  any  bill  he  now  thought  fit. 

In  the  third  article  of  the  Charter  we  find  "  That  the 
freemen  in  each  respective  county,  at  the  time  and 
place  of  meeting  for  electing  their  representatives  to 
serve  in  Assembly,  may,  as  often  as  there  shall  be 
occasion  choose  a  double  number  of  persons  to  pre- 
sent to  the  Governor  for  sheriffs  and  coroners,  to  serve 
three  years,  if  so  long  they  behave  themselves  well  out 
of  which  respective  elections  and  presentments,  the 
Governor  shall  nominate  and  commissionate  one  for 
each  of  the  said  offices."  Though  elections  were  held 
and  appeared  free  yet  with  such  restriction  could 
amount  to  little,  but  to  render  officials  pliant  and  tract- 
24 


370  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

able  to  the  measures  or  designs  of  the  Proprietaries. 
We  need  not  wonder  any  longer  when  we  come  to 
examine  into  it  at  the  high-handed  or  arbitrary  pro- 
ceedings of  such  men  as  deputy  Governors  Evans  and 
Denny,  backed  as  they  were  by  the  powers  to  which 
they  owed  their  positions.  In  examining  the  Colonial 
Records  and  Archives  we  frequently  find  the  appoint- 
ment of  men  who  had  received  the  next  highest  vote, 
the  opposing  candidate  continuing  to  be  elected  by 
the  greatest  majority  a  number  of  times  and  still  fail- 
ing therein,  owing  to  some  objectionable  cause  to  the 
Proprietary  party. 

Gordon  in  his  History  of  Pennsylvania  (pp.  12 1-3), 
mentions  another  strong  point  gained  by  the  Proprie- 
tary in  the  new  Charter.  "  Nor  was  the  Council  rec- 
ognized as  a  part  of  the  government,  unless  a  prohibi- 
tion to  the  Governor  and  Council  to  take  cognizance 
of  any  complaint  relating  to  property,  except  appeals 
should  be  allowed  by  law  from  the  ordinary  tribunals, 
may  be  considered  as  such  recognition.  The  practice 
of  trying  causes  relative  to  real  estate,  before  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council,  as  well  as  those  in  which  private 
citizens  were  parties,  as  those  in  which  the  Proprietary 
was  interested,  had  been  continued.  This  made  him  a 
judge  in  his  own  cause,  and  was  highly  objectionable 
when  the  Council  was  elected  by  the  people  ;  it  be- 
came wholly  inadmissible  when  that  body  became  the 
mere  creature  of  the  Governor." 

The    Charter    of    Privileges    to    the    Province    and 


NEW    CHARTER    OF    PRIVILEGES.  37 1 

Counties,  which  Penn  had  signed  on  the  28th  of  Oct- 
tober,  1 70 1,  may  be  seen  in  full  in  the  Colonial  Rec- 
ords. (Vol.  II.,  pp.  56-61.)  On  the  same  day  he  ap- 
pointed Edward  Shippen,  John  Guest,  Samuel  Carpen- 
ter, William  Clark,  Thomas  Story,  GrifTith  Owen, 
Phineas  Pemberton,  Samuel  Finney,  Caleb  Pusey,  and 
John  Blunston  to  be  his  Council  of  State  for  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Counties  annexed,  of  whom  any  four  shall  be  a  quorum 
to  consult  and  assist  with  the  best  of  their  advice  and 
council,  him  or  his  deputy  Governor  for  the  time  being. 
And  of  whom  he  says  "  to  continue  in  place  till  my 
further  order  shall  be  known  :  and  I  further  hereby 
grant  to  my  Lt.  Governor  for  the  time  being,  full 
power  and  authority,  upon  the  decease  or  removal  of 
any  of  the  said  Council,  to  nominate  and  appoint 
others  to  serve  in  their  place  and  stead,  also  to  add  to 
the  number  of  the  Council  now  appointed."  So  passed 
away  the  independent  elective  Council  for  the  Propri- 
etary Government.  Ellis  in  his  Life  of  Penn  (p.  372) 
is  considerably  mistaken  when  he  says  that  "  the  new 
frame  of  Government  was  essentially  the  same,  except 
in  allowing  the  territories  to  separate  from  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province."  Very  probably  without  ex- 
amining into  the  subject,  Janney  says  (p.  45  i)  that  "  in 
some  respects  was  even  more  liberal  than  those  which 
preceded  it." 

The  Governor  probably  left  Philadelphia  on  the  29th 
or  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  for  we  know  that  on 


372  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

this  day  he  had  arrived  at  New  Castle  where  he  made  his 
will.  This  instrument  is  so  interesting  that  we  propose 
to  give  therefrom  the  following  extracts  : 

"  New  Castle  on  Delaware,  30,  8br,  1701. 
"  Because  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  dye,  and 
yt  their  days  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Almighty  their 
Creator,  I  think  fitt  upon  this  my  present  voyage  to 
make  my  last  will  and  testament,  which  is  as  follows, 
vizt:  ***=!<**  I  g[yQ  to  my  servants 
John  and  Mary  Satcher  three  hundred  acres  between 
them,  to  James  Logan  one  thousand  acres  and  my 
blacks  their  freedom  as  is  under  my  hand  already  and 
to  ould  Sam  100  acres,  to  be  his  childrens  after  he  and 
wife  are  dead  forever,  on  common  rent  of  one  bushel 
of  wheat  yearly  forever,  and  for  performance  of  which 
I  desire  my  loving  Friends  Edward  Shippen,  Samuel 
Carpenter,  Edward  Penington  and  James  Logan  in 
America  or  any  three  of  them  and  Benjamin  Gool, 
Thomas  Callowhill,  Henry  Goldney  and  Joseph  Pike 
in  P2ngland  or  any  three  of  them  to  be  my  executors, 
trustees  and  overseers,  or  any  three  of  them  to  see 
this  my  last  will  observed,  and  that  I  have  right  done 
me  about  my  incumbrances  and  that  my  family  suffer 
not  by  oppressive  demands  but  to  get  me  and  myne 
righted  in  the  law  or  equity,  and  I  do  hereby  charge 
all  my  children,  as  their  loving  dying  Father's  last 
command  and  desire  that  they  never  goe  to  law,  but  if 
any  difference  should  arise  wch  I  would  hope  will  not, 


MAKES    HIS    WILL    AT    NEW    CASTLE.  373 

that  they  be  concluded  by  the  Judgement  of  Frds  to  be 
chosen  by  the  meeting  of  sufferings  of  the  people  called 
Quakers  in  England  for  English  and  Irish  concerns, 
and  in  America  of  the  ffrds  of  the  quarterly  meeting 
at  Philadelphia  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  small  decision. — 
I  do  further  ordain  by  this  will  that  my  estate  I  here 
give  to  either  or  any  of  my  children  be  never  alienated 
from  my  family  for  want  of  heirs  of  their  own  body 
but  that  debts  being  payd  they  may  owe,  the  rest  to  be 
inherited  by  the  next  of  blood  of  my  body  and  de- 
scent and  for  want  thereof  my  dear  sister  and  her 
blood  in  such  manner  as  she  shall  appoint. 

**  And  now — if  ever  I  have  done  amiss  to  any  I  desire 
their  forgiveness — and  for  all  the  good  offices  I  have 
ever  done,  I  give  God  who  enabled  me  the  honor  and 
thanks — and  for  all  my  enemies  and  their  evil  reflec- 
tions— and  reports  and  endeavors  to  ruin  me  in  name 
and  estate — I  doe  say  the  Lord  forgive  them — and 
amend  them. — For  I  have  ever  from  a  child  loved  the 
best  things  and  people,  and  have  had  a  heart — I  bless 
the  name  of  Almighty  God  to  do  good  without  gain. 
Yea  sometimes  for  evill — and  to  consume  my  own  to 
serve  others,  which  has  been  my  greatest  burden — an 
infirmity  having  a  minde  not  only  just  but  kinde  even 
to  a  fault.  For  it  has  made  me  hardly  so  just  by 
means  of  debts  thereby  contracted  as  my  integrity 
would  have  made  me. 

•'  And  now  for  all  my  good  Friends  that  have  loved 
and  helped  me  doe  so  still  in  my  poor  children  what 


374  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

you  can,  and  God  Almighty  be  to  you  and  yours  an 
ample  reward — You  have  my  hearty  and  grateful  ac- 
knowledgements and  commemoration  who  never  lived 
to  myself  From  my  very  youth  But  you  and  the 
whole  world  in  love  and  service.  This  I  ordain  to  be, 
and  accordingly  is  my  last  will  and  testament  revoaking 
all  other.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  the  day  and 
year  above  written. 

Wm.  Penn     [seal.] 

"  Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Richard 
Hallowell,  Joseph  Wood,  Robert  Asheton,  James 
Logan." 

It  is  entirely  too  long  for  our  purpose  but  the 
whole  may  be  seen  in  Friends'  Intelligencer  (vol.  II.,  p. 
337,  for  1846),  besides  it  was  superseded  by  a  later 
Will,  made  on  the  27th  of  3d  month,  17 12.  How- 
ever, its  contents  are  calculated  to  give  the  general 
reader  a  deeper  insight  into  his  principles  on  a  serious 
matter,  and  that  too  just  before  undertaking  a  long 
voyage  at  a  hazardous  time  of  the  year  and  as  char- 
acteristic of  the  man.  It  also  gives  his  sentiments  on 
several  important  subjects:  particularly  relating  to 
differences  of  opinion  that  might  arise  as  to  the  mode 
of  adjusting  and  settling  the  affairs  of  his  estate.  The 
original  was  found  among  the  papers  of  the  late 
Miers  Fisher,  and  from  thence  came  into  the  possession 
of  Thomas  Gilpin. 

On    the    same    day   "  The    Proprietors    Agreement 


MAKES    HIS    WILL   AT    NEW    CASTLE.  375 

about  the  Charter  for  the  Lower  Counties  "  was  agreed 
upon  at  New  Castle  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Because  my  time  has  been  very  short,  and  many 
matters  of  moment  crowding  at  once  upon  me,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  digest  and  thoroughly  consider  the 
Charter  of  Property  in  all  the  branches  of  it,  especially 
in  point  of  courts,  and  powers  therein  expressed.  I 
have  thought  fit,  for  a  common  safety  to  forbear  the 
complete  passing  of  the  same,  until  I  see  the  state  of 
affairs  at  home. 

2dly.  Because  the  lower  counties  are  not  included ; 
and  till  they  either  are  included,  or  have  a  charter 
for  their  properties  also,  I  cannot  safely  do  it. 

3dly.  I  shall,  in  the  compass  of  six  months,  order 
the  passing  of  the  said  charter,  under  the  Great  Seal,  if 
God  give  me  life,  unless  affairs  at  home  require  us  to 
change  measures  for  the  general  good. 

4thly.  I  do  hereby  declare,  grant  and  confirm  the 
first  part,  relating  strictly  to  titles  of  lands,  as  amply 
to  be  of  force  as  if  I  expected  the  same,  and  only 
decline  that  of  powers  from  necessary  caution  for  a 
common  safety. 

Wherefore  I  do  hereby  order  that  my  honored 
friend,  Governor  Hamilton,  keep  the  said  draught 
in  his  custody,  signed  by  me,  unsealed,  till  he  hears 
from  me ;  and  if  he  hears  not  from  me  to  the  contrary, 
or  my  heirs,  in  six  months'  time,  that  then  he  suffer  it 
to  pass  under  the  seal,  and  not  otherwise ;  hereby 
promising   to  all    concerned   that   that,    or    such    an 


3/6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

instrument  in  the  substance  thereof  as  counsel  learned 
in  the  law  in  England  shall  advise  to  be  safe  for  me 
and  the  people  to  pass,  shall  be  by  me  executed,  there 
or  here,  for  our  mutual  further  security.  In  testimony 
of  which,  I  do  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this 
31st,  8br,  1 70 1. 

William  Penn.     [seal.] 

"  I  do  also  promise  to  the  lower  counties  a  charter 
of  property  suitable  to  our  relation  to  one  another,  if 
they  require  it  from  me." 

The  Charter  of  the  Borough  of  Chester  was  signed 
on  the  3 1st,  and  to  which  he  ordered  the  Great  Seal  of 
the  Province  to  be  affixed.  It  is  curious  from  what 
motive  he  should  have  thus  deferred  it  to  be  also  signed 
at  New  Castle.  The  following  interesting  extract  is 
given  from  the  same: 

"William  Penn  true  and  absolute  Proprietary  and 
Governor-in-chief  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Territories  thereunto  belonging  :  To  all  to  whom  these 
Presents  shall  come,  sends  greeting. — Whereas  in  my 
first  Regulation  and  Division  of  the  counties  of  this 
Province,  I  thought  fit  to  order.  That  the  Townstead 
or  village  then  having  the  Name  of  Upland  should  be 
called  Chester,  which  I  thereupon  constituted  the 
Shiredom  of  the  County  of  Chester,  and  ordained  and 
appointed  all  my  Courts  of  Judicature  for  the  affairs  of 
that  County  to  be  there  held  and  kept,  and  the  County 
Goal  or  Prison  to  be  and  remain  there  for  ever.  And 
whereas  about  the  same  Time  or  soon  after,  for  the 


MAKES    HIS    WILL    AT    NEW    CASTLE.  3/7 

Encouragement  of  the  said  Town,  I  was  pleased  to 
grant  unto  my  ancient  Friend  John  Simcock  in  behalf 
of  himself  and  others  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Place, 
the  Privilege  of  a  Market  to  be  there  weekly  held  and 
kept.  After  which  the  said  Inhabitants,  upon  their 
special  Instance,  did  also  obtain  from  my  late  Lieuten- 
ant Governor  and  Council  a  Grant  for  two  Fairs  to  be 
held  in  the  said  town  yearly.  All  which  the  inhabitants 
of  the  said  Town,  and  of  the  adjacent  Parts  of  the  said 
County  of  Chester,  having  humbly  brought  me  to  con- 
firm unto  them,  together  with  such  additional  Privi- 
liges  and  Franchises  as  I  might  think  fit  or  requisite 
for  the  better  Encouragement  of  the  Settlers,  and  regu- 
lation of  trade  therein." 

From  the  flourish  that  the  descendants  of  Penn  had 
made  with  their  titles  down  to  the  Revolution,  we  were 
not  aware  before  that  they  could  go  to  him  for  prece- 
dence, but  we  have  here  the  fact,  in  styling  himself 
"  true  and  absolute  Proprietary  and  Governor-in-chief  of 
Pennsylvania,  and" Territories  thereunto  belonging." 

The  Proprietary  had  already  on  the  12th  of  Octo- 
ber, or  8th  month,  made  an  agreement  with  Captain 
John  Fitch,  the  commander  of  the  ship  Dolmahoy,  for 
his  passage  to  England  under  the  following  con- 
ditions : 

"That  the  said  Governor  shall  have  the  full  and  free 
use  of  the  whole  great  cabin  of  the  ship,  in  her  voyage 
from  Pennsylvania  to  London,  to  himself  and  family ; 
for  which  he  shall  pay  the  said  Captain  at  London,  50 


3/8  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

guineas.  And  for  every  person  going  in  said  cabin 
(a  young  child  excepted)  £2,  per  head,  for  their 
necessary  accommodations  of  fire,  water,  etc.,  and 
storage  for  provisions ;  for  such  passengers  as  lie  out 
of  the  cabin,  and  eat  of  the  ship's  provisions,  £6 
per  head,  and  for  those  that  do  not  eat  of  the  same. 
That,  for  all  such  dry-goods  and  packages  as  the  said 
captain  must  pay  E.  Shippen  freight  for,  the  said 
Governor  shall  pay  the  Captain  the  same  rate. 
That,  in  case  the  captain  should  be  obliged  to  sail 
without  the  Governor,  he  shall  then  be  paid  at 
London  for  his  disappointment.  In  witness,  whereof, 
the  said  parties  have  hereunto  interchangeably  set 
their  hands  the  day  and  year  first  above  written." 

On  the  3d  of  November  from  on  board  the  ship  he 
gave  his  '*  Instructions  to  James  Logan,  my  Receiver 
and  Secretary,"  and  which  the  latter  endorsed  "  Pro- 
prietor's last  instructions  to  me,  just  at  Parting."  We 
give  the  greater  portion  of  its  contents :  the  whole 
may  be  seen  in  the  Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence 
(vol.  II.,  pp.  59-61.) 

**I  have  left  thee  in  an  uncommon  trust,  with  a 
singular  dependence  on  thy  justice  and  care,  which  I 
expect  thou  wilt  faithfully  employ  in  advancing  my 
honest  interest.  Use  thy  utmost  endeavors,  in  the 
first  place,  to  receive  all  that  is  due  to  me.  Get  in 
quit-rents;  sell  lands  according  to  my  instructions  to 
my  commissioners ;  look  carefully  after  all  fines, 
forfeitures,  escheats,  deodands,   and    strays,  that  shall 


MAKES    HIS    WILL    AT    NEW    CASTLE.  379 

belong  to  me  as  proprietor  or  chief  governor.  Get  in 
the  taxes  and  Friends'  subscriptions,  and  use  thy 
utmost  diligence  in  making  remittances  to  me,  with  all 
my  effects,  by  bills  of  exchange,  tobacco  or  other 
merchandise,  or  by  any  means  that  in  the  best  judg- 
ment, or  the  advice  of  my  friends  skilled  in  those 
affairs,  may  be  my  advantage,  not  only  directly  to 
London,  but  by  the  West  Indies,  or  by  any  other  pru- 
dent method  whatsoever ;  but  take  advice  especially 
of  Edward  Shippen  and  Samuel  Carpenter,  and  others 
best  experienced  in  trade. 

•'  Thou  may  continue  in  the  house  I  lived  in  till  the 
year  is  up.  Pay  off  all  my  notes  and  orders  on  thee, 
settle  my  accounts,  discharge  all  my  debts  honorably 
but  carefully,  make  rent-rolls,  draw  up  an  estimate  of 
my  estate,  and  of  what  may  be  raised  from  it,  which  send 
over  to  me  as  speedily  ^s  possible,  for  it  may  be  of 
great  use  to  me ;  and  in  all  other  things  show  thyself 
a  careful  and  diligent  agent  to  justify  my  trust  of  thee 
for  so  great  a  trust.  Thou  must  make  good  to  Col. 
Hamilton,  my  deputy  Governor,  two  hundred  pounds 
per  annum  of  your  money,  till  such  time  as  I  procure 
an  approbation  for  him,  and  afterwards  three  hundred 
pounds.  Also  to  John  Moore,  as  attorney-general, 
thirty  pounds  a  year,  so  long  as  he  shall  serve  me 
faithfully. 

"  Write  to  me  diligently,  advising  me  of  everything 
relating  to  my  interest.  Send  all  my  household  goods 
up  to  Pennsbury,  unless  thou  inclines  to  keep  sufficient 


380  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

furniture  for  a  chamber  to  thyself,  for  which  thou  hast 
my  leave  :  take  care  that  nothing  be  damnified  or  lost. 
Give  my  dear  love  to  all  my  friends,  who  I  desire  may 
labor  to  soften  angry  spirits,  and  to  reduce  them  to  a 
sense  of  their  duty  ;  and  at  thy  return  give  a  small 
treat  in  my  name  to  the  gentlemen  at  Philadelphia,  for 
a  beginning  to  a  better  understanding,  for  which  I  pray 
the  Lord  to  incline  their  hearts  for  their  own  ease,  as 
well  as  mine  and  my  friends. 

''  For  thy  own  services  I  shall  allow  thee  what  is 
just  and  reasonable,  either  by  commission  or  salary. 
Serve  me  faithfully  as  thou  expects  a  blessing  from 
God  or  my  favor,  and  I  shall  support  thee  to  my  ut- 
most, as  Thy  true  friend. 

Will.    Penn." 

According  to  the  custom  of  Friends,  it  is  quite 
probable  that  Penn  and  his  wife  received  certificates  of 
removal  from  Falls  Monthly  Meeting,  as  we  know  that 
his  daughter  Letitia  had  from  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Women  Friends  in  Philadelphia,  and  which  was  dated 
27th  of  7th  month  previous. 

It  may  be  presumed  that  on  the  4th,  the  second  day 
of  the  voyage,  the  ship  had  cleared  the  Capes  and  was 
now  on  her  way  across  the  Atlantic,  when  a  curious 
incident  transpired.  W^e  mean  the  writing  of  a  letter 
on  said  day  by  Thomas  Callowhill  to  his  daughter,  ad- 
dressed "  William  Penn,  Esqr.,  Proprietor  and  Governor 
of  Pensilvania  for   H.    P."       We    give   the   following 


ARRIVES    SAFELY    IN    ENGLAND.  38 1 

extracts,   copied   from   the  original,  perhaps  now  first 
published :  (2.) 

Bristol,  4th  of  9th  month,  1701. 
Dear  Hannah. 

Thine  of  the  17th  and  2 2d  of  6th  month  last  came 
to  our  hands  and  gave  us  th^  satisfaction  of  hearing  of 
your  health,  &c.,  so  welcome  to  us.  We  continue  in 
indifferent  good  health.  I  bless  God  many  are  in  ex- 
pectation of  your  sudden  coming  over,  which  makes 
me  doubt  whether  this  may  find  you  at  Pensilvania  or 
not,  if  it  doth  let  it  bring  to  thy  remembrance  what  I 
wrote  in  my  former  touching  my  lands  purchased  there 
of  which  I  expected  thy  care  and  some  answer.  Thy 
letter  hints  great  uncertainty  in  your  settlement  and  it 
is  the  opinion  of  B.  C.  and  other  Friends  that  you  will 
come  over  suddenly,  otherwise  thy  mother  would  in- 
cline to  send  over  some  necessaries  which  she  now 
omits  because  of  the  uncertainty  of  its  finding  thee. 
We  are  now  come  to  the  i6th  and  in  pretty  good  de- 
gree of  health  but  not  without  weakness  and  pains  that 
attends  our  age  and  decaying  bodies.  Last  five  days 
past  brought  us  news  that  Parliament  was  disolved  and 
that  the  King  would  issue  out  writts  for  a  new  Elec- 
tion to  sit  the  30th  of  loth  month.  This  letter  is  now 
sent  with  dear  love  from  myself  and  thy  Mother  to  the 
Governor,  thyself,  dear  John,  Tishe  and  our  friends  in 
general.  Phebe  desires  to  be  kindly  remembered  to 
you.  Tho.  Callohill. 


382  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

We  can  see  in  the  aforesaid  that  from  information 
derived  from  previous  correspondence  that  Hannah 
Penn  had  determined  on  returning  to  England,  and 
that  even  this  coming  would  not,  to  her  family,  be 
wholly  unexpected,  and  who  appear  to  have  encour- 
aged her  in  it  This  reminds  us  of  the  Proprietary's 
letter  from  Pennsbury  the  8th  of  7th  month  previous 
to  James  Logan,  wherein  he  says,  "  I  cannot  prevail  on 
my  wife  to  stay  and  still  less  with  Tishe.  I  know  not 
what  to  do."  We  may  well  fancy  the  poor  man's  feel- 
ings when  that  was  written. 

In  his  return  Penn  had  a  remarkably  quick  passage, 
and  infer  from  his  correspondence  that  he  must  have 
arrived  at  Portsmouth  about  the  4th  of  December. 
On  the  I  oth  of  11  th  month  he  addressed  a  letter  from 
Kensington  to  his  "  Honored  and  Esteemed  Friends," 
most  probably  his  Provincial  Council  in  which  he 
mentions  "  having  all  ready  written  from  Portsmouth 
by  the  Jersey  Frigate  to  Governor  Hamilton.  I  bless 
God  this  leaves  us  all  well  save  my  sore  leg  and  toe 
which  yet  are  in  a  kindly  way  to  be  better.  I  have  little 
news  to  write  you  ;  only  am  told  the  business  I  came 
about  is  like  to  be  dropt,  and  I  am  at  some  stand  still 
what  to  do,  I  hope  God  will  direct  for  the  best. 

"  Here  has  been  villainous  work  against  us,  such 
fallacy,  malice,  and  trickery,  't  is  contemptible  as  well 
as  wicked;  but  I  do  not  despond.  Affairs  here  are 
dubious,  a  war  likely  next  spring.  Parties  very  warm 
and  contesting,  hard   to  say  which  may  carry  it.       I 


ARRIVES   SAFELY    IN    ENGLAND.  383 

wish  a  discreet  composure,  I  say  no  more  than  that 
I  pray  God  Almighty  to  be  with  and  among  you  in 
his  fear  and  wisdom,  and  bring  us  once  more  together, 
which  will  be  a  comfortable  day  I  hope." 

"  Thou  wilt  hear,"  he  wrote  to  Logan  on  the  4th  of 
nth  month,  "long  ere  this  comes  to  thy  hand,  I 
doubt  not,  of  all  our  safe  arrival,  through  the  great 
and  continued  mercies  of  God ;  save  my  leg  got  a 
small  rub  about  four  days  before  our  coming  into  the 
channel,  which  by  contrary  applications  in  town,  has 
disabled  me  from  having  the  benefit  of  my  swift  pas- 
sage, as  I  might  otherways  have  had.  We  were  but 
twenty-six  days  from  land  to  soundings,  twenty-eight 
to  the  start  in  Devonshire,  and  thirty  to  Portsmouth. 
Nothing  yet  done  in  my  affairs,  but  my  coming  I  do 
more  and  more  see  necessary,  on  divers  accounts ; 
though  a  troublesome  and  costly  journey.  My  son 
has  been  very  .serviceable,  but  costly,  and  half  given 
away  for  the  country. 

*'  I  wrote  by  an  English  ship,  last  week — in  short, 
not  time  to  read  it — that  if  John  and  Mary  come,  his 
brother  leaving  him  ^^^150,  if  he  come  in  two  years  for 
it,  that  Hugh  be  steward  and  gardener,  and  old  Peter 
go  to  the  garden  when  needful  ;  and  that  Phineas 
Pemberton's  wife  and  daughter  see  to  the  bedding  and 
linen,  once  a  month.  Mind  that  the  leads  be  mended. 
I  pray  God  continue  poor  Phineas.  We  remember 
you  all,  in  your  respective  capacities,  with  much  love 
and   regard,  and   Pennsylvania  will  not   be  forgotten. 


384  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Remember  me  to  all  officers  in  Government,  and  to  de- 
serving friends,  &c." 

He  also  states  respecting  the  voyage  that  "  five  of 
the  last  days  clear  for  observation,  before  we  came  to 
the  Channel.  The  Captain  very  civil,  and  all  company. 
Tishe  and  Johnne,  after  the  first  five  days  hearty  and 
well,  and  Johnne  exceedingly  cheerful  all  the  way." 
By  John  and  Mary  he  means  the  steward  and  his 
wife  at  Pennsbury,  and  Tishe  and  Johnne,  his  daugh- 
ter and  infant  son.  In  his  letter  to  the  Proprietary 
dated  the  2d  of  loth  month,  Logan  says,  "  This  it 
is  hoped,  will  find  thee,  through  the  good  providence 
of  God,  safely  arrived  on  the  English  shore,  which 
is  the  repeated  desire  and  prayer  of  thousands  here." 

Having  now  followed  Penn  for  the  last  time  to  his  na- 
tive land  and  from  the  beginning  of  his  two  voyages 
to  their  close,  it  may  be  well  for  comparison's  sake 
to  furnish  the  amount  of  time  occupied  in  each  and 
how  long  he  was  altogether  in  the  Province.  The 
first  time  he  left  England  September  ist,  1682,  and 
returned  about  October  6th,  1684,  consequently  absent 
about  two  years  and  thirty-six  days.  The  second 
time  he  left  September  3d,  1699,  and  returned  about 
December  4th,  1701,  making  about  two  years  and 
three  months,  the  total  being  four  years  and  a  little 
over  four  months.  He  arrived  in  the  colony  the  first 
time  October  27th,  1682,  and  left  August  i6th,  1684, 
making  one  year  and  nearly  nine  and  a  half  months. 
The  second  time  December  ist,  1699,  and  left  Novem- 


ARRIVES   SAFELY    IN    ENGLAND.  385 

ber  3d,  1 70 1,  making  one  year  and  upwards  of  eleven 
iponths,  being  altogether  in  the  Province  about  three 
years  and  ten  and  a  half  months  in  his  lifetime  of 
upwards  of  thirty-four  years  since  he  received  his 
grant. 


25 


386  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

PENN'S     troubles     in    ENGLAND. HOW    EVANS    BECAME 

DEPUTY  GOVERNOR. ACCOUNT  OF  LETITIA  PENN. 

THE  PROPRIETARY  NO  FINANCIER. AF- 
FAIRS   AT    PENNSBURY. 

According  to  the  Proprietary's  cash  book  kept  by- 
James  Logan  and  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Ameri- 
can Philosophical  Society,  his  whole  expenses  while 
here  from  November,  1699,  to  the  same  month,  1701, 
amounted  to  ^2,049  Pennsylvania  currency,  being 
equivalent  to  ;^ 5, 464. 86  of  our  present  money.  This 
probably  also  includes  all  expenses  for  repairs  and  im- 
provements made  at  Pennsbury  within  said  period,  as 
well  as  all  outlays  for  labor. 

A  catalogue  of  the  goods  left  at  Pennsbury  was  made 
by  James  Logan  the  3d  of  i  ith  month,  1701,  and  con- 
tains a  long  list  of  the  various  articles  of  furniture,  etc., 
remaining  in  the  several  rooms  of  the  mansion  house 
there.  It  is  too  lengthy  for  our  use,  but  the  whole 
may  be  seen  in  the  Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence 
(vol.  I.,  p.  62.),  and  is  not  without  interest. 

From  the  Bucks  county  records  we  learn  that  on  the 
17th  of  nth  month,  1701,  for  the  sum  of  i^  100  Ster- 


PENN'S  troubles  in  ENGLAND.         387 

ling,  Penn  conveyed  to  George  Beale,  yeoman  of  Guil- 
ford, in  Surrey  "  3000  acres  of  land  clear  of  Indian  in- 
cumbrances in  the  said  Province  between  the  river 
Susquehanna  and  Delaware,"  and  to  which  he  duly 
affixed  his  hand  and  seal,  witnessed  by  William  Lirk- 
fold  and  William  Beale.  This  instrument  we  find  was 
not  recorded  till  April  4th,  1729.  The  stipulations  in 
this  deed  are  so  unusual,  at  least  to  us,  having  never 
observed  anything  like  it  in  any  other  grant.  We 
must  therefore  conclude  that  it  was  his  great  need  of 
money  alone  that  caused  him  to  submit  to  the  require- 
ments of  such  a  title. 

No  doubt  on  his  arrival  home  the  Proprietary  must 
have  felt  some  relief,  while  his  wife  and  daughter  on 
this  account  must  have  continued  in  happiness  for 
months.  But  his  anxieties  were  yet  by  no  means  over 
if  we  are  to  judge  his  feelings  as  expressed  in  the  fol- 
lowing, addressed  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
Trade  and  Plantations  on  the  7th  of  2d  month,  1702  : 

"  As  I  am  much  obliged  to  your  justice  that  I  shall 
not  be  condemned  unheard  so  I  must  by  the  continu- 
ance of  it  to  allow  my  circumstances  the  time  required 
to  wait  upon  you.  I  am  one  hundred  miles  off  with  a 
weak  family  and  divided ;  my  wife  in  one  place ;  a 
poor  weak  child  in  another  whose  languishing  condi- 
tion occasioned  my  leaving  the  town  some  days  sooner 
than  I  intended  though  I  had  been  unprofitably  as  well 
as  expensively  there  a  whole  month.  And  indeed  I 
thought   all  attempts  against  us  over  for  this  session 


388  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  had  leave  as  I  may  call  it  of  Lord  Manchester  to 
follow  my  family  concerns.  I  shall  leave  nothing  to 
an  agent  being  upon  the  spot  myself,  and  hope  I  shall 
not  be  surprised  by  hasty  commands.  If  I  did  not 
write  I  told  your  Secretary  why.  It  was  no  fault  but 
my  trouble.  I  was  too  infirm  to  stand  an  hour  or  two 
with  legs  as  feeble  as  mine  are  well  known  to  be.  I 
hope  the  malice  of  my  enemies  and  those  of  my  de- 
serving country  shall  not  have  that  power  with  you  to 
hurry  me  away  without  some  reasonable  allowance  of 
time.  And  in  the  mean  time  I  pray  for  a  copy  of  the 
accusations." 

Governor  Hamilton,  whom  Penn  had  appointed  as 
his  deputy,  died  in  February,  on  which  account  he  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  Trade 
on  the  2d  of  5th  month,  1703,  in  which  he  says  that 
he  was  "informed  by  a  letter  from  New  York  the  3d 
of  the  month  called  May  of  the  death  of  Col.  Hamilton, 
and  well  knowing  the  importance  of  it  to  the  public 
that  this  place  be  supplied  forthwith  I  humbly  propose 
to  the  Board  to  recommend  to  the  Queen's  approba- 
tion Col.  Wm.  Markham  or  Capt.  John  Finney." 

On  the  6th,  or  a  few  days  after  he  wrote  to  the  same : 
"  Finding  some  difficulty  was  made  at  the  Board  upon 
my  naming  Col.  Markham  to  you  though  the  most 
capable  person  to  fill  up  the  present  vacancy  by  the 
death  of  Col.  Hamilton  there  and  being  unacquainted 
with  Capt.  Finney's  friends  in  England  that  should 
give  security  for  his  regular  administration,  I  presented 


HOW    EVANS    BECAME    DEPUTY    GOVERNOR.         389 

to  the  Queen  in  my  petition  John  Evans,  Esq.  for  her 
Royal  approbation,  a  person  of  good  sense  and  repu- 
tation to  be  my  Lieutenant  Governor  for  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Territories,  which  being  referred 
to  your  last  Cabinet  I  earnestly  beg  you  will  not  suffer 
me  to  lose  the  Council  to-morrow  the  ship  being  ready 
to  go  in  a  very  few  days  by  way  of  Boston,  and  the 
Province  suffering  greatly  in  their  affairs  for  want  of  a 
Governor  upon  the  spot  and  you  will  oblige,  &c." 

Two  days  after  he  wrote  another  letter  urging  still 
more  strongly  the  approval  of  Evans,  and  as  it  is  brief 
and  has  never  before  been  published,  give  it  in  full  that 
the  reasons  for  his  choice  may  be  known. 

"  To  the  Lords  of  Trade,  &c. 

8,  5  mo.  (July)  1703. 
•' Hon'ble  Friends.  The .  Gentlemen  named  in  my 
Petition  to  the  Queen  and  Letter  to  you,  is  a  person 
that  has  had  a  liberal  education,  been  abroad  and 
knows  the  world  very  well  is  sober,  discreet  and  of  a 
good  understanding  for  his  time.  No  merchant  and 
to  no  temptation  that  way.  No  soldier  but  has  been 
in  Flanders  and  observed  the  discipline  of  the  troops 
frequently  and  penetrates  more  than  I  presume  our 
poor  colony  wants.  He  will  give  security  as  Col. 
Hamilton  did  and  has  more  than  enough  to  secure 
them  that  are  his  and  is  not  in  debt  but  lives  like  a 
gentleman  upon  his  estate  here.  He  is  a  single  man 
neither    voracious    nor    extravagant  and  is  a   known 


390  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

zealous  member  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  I  pre- 
sume will  be  recommended  by  gentlemen  of  undoubted 
reputation.  I  am  in  hopes  this  may  satisfy  your  in- 
quiry and  the  gentleman  that  gives  this  for  me  being 
his  acquaintance  Charles  Lawton,  Esq.,  who  may  be 
more  particular  if  you  think  it  necessary.     I  am  your 

respectful  Friend, 

Wm.  Penn."  (4.) 

Markham  was  a  good  selection  and  it  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  he  failed  therein.  Evans,  though  only 
about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  must  have  evidently 
been  a  man  of  some  means,  according  to  what  he 
states  in  the  above  letter.  One  account  represents 
him  to  have  been  at  this  time  an  officer  in  the  Queen's 
household,  and  that  his  father  was  on  the  most  inti- 
mate terms  with  the  Proprietary.  Of  the  subsequent 
scandalous  conduct  of  Governor  Evans  and  William 
Penn,  Jr.,  in  Philadelphia,  a  pretty  full  account  may  be 
seen  in  Dixon's  Biography. 

As  has  been  stated  in  a  previous  chapter  when  the 
Proprietary  sailed  for  this  country  he  left  behind  him 
his  only  surviving  son  by  the  first  wife,  William  Penn, 
Jr.,  who  had  been  married  and  the  father  of  several 
children.  On  his  return  he  found  that  he  had  become 
addicted  to  dissipated  habits,  evil  companions  and 
greatly  involved  in  debt.  He  concluded  for  his  good 
to  send  him  over  with  Governor  Evans  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, recommending  him  to  the  care  of  James  Logan. 
He  arrived  with  hounds,  hunting  equipments  and  fish- 


ACCOUNT   OF    LETITIA    PENN.  39 1 

ing  tackle  to  divert  his  mind  and  keep  him  from  city 
temptations  at  Pennsbury.  But  the  novelty  soon  wore 
ofif,  he  took  to  Philadelphia,  and  fell  into  his  former 
habits,  and  after  a  few  years  residence  returned  with 
as  little  respect  for  the  colony  as  the  people  had  here 
for  him.  As  early  as  1689,  the  Proprietary  had  di- 
rected Thomas  Holme,  the  Surveyor- General,  to  lay 
out  a  tract  of  land  "  on  the  canoable  part  of  Schuyl- 
kill," and  as  a  provision  had  conveyed  to  him  the  2d 
of  8th  month,  1704,  as  the  "manor  of  Williamstadt," 
containg  7,482  acres.  The  spendthrift  son  five  days 
afterwards  sold  it  to  Isaac  Norris  and  William  Trent 
for  ;^85o  incurred  for  debts.  He  was  the  cause  of 
great  anxiety  and  expense  to  his  father.  To  avoid  his 
creditors  he  fled  to  France,  leaving  his  wife  and  child- 
ren to  be  maintained  at  the  family  seat  at  Rushcombe. 
He  died  at  Liege  in  1 720,  of  consumption  and  fever 
brought  on  by  his  excesses.  Though  we  give  addi- 
tional information,  Dixon  gives  a  pretty  full  account 
of  him,  while  he  is  barely  mentioned  by  the  rest  of 
Penn's  biographers. 

Respecting  Letitia  Penn,  who  accompanied  her 
father  to  Pennsylvania,  we  have  not  been  enabled  to 
find  any  published  account  beyond  an  incidental  men- 
tion of  her  name.  We  are  now  enabled,  however,  to 
supply,  in  part,  this  defect  from  information  derived 
chiefly  from  manuscript  sources.  Her  age  we  have 
been  unable  to  ascertain,  but  we  know  that  at  her  de- 
parture for  America  she  must  have  been  a  full-grown 


392  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

young  woman.  Among  her  associates  and  visitors  at 
Pennsbury  we  find  mention  of  the  daughters  of  Ed- 
ward Shippen,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Governor  Jennings, 
of  Burlington.  She  was  present  at  the  marriage  of 
one  or  two  of  the  latter  at  the  meeting  house  there. 
On  the  marriage  of  Mary  Lofty,  the  stewardess  of 
Pennsbury,  she  made  her  a  present  of  a  chest  of 
drawers  that  had  cost  £j.  Her  father  bestowed 
on  her,  the  29th  of  ist  month,  1701,  the  large  lot  on 
the  south  side  of  Market  street  between  Front  and 
Second,  with  the  cottage  theron,  which  was  occupied 
by  him  on  the  occasion  of  his  first  visit.  She  sold  off 
a  portion  of  this  ground  to  Charles  Read  the  following 
9th  of  5th  month.  The  manor  of  Mount  Joy,  con- 
taining 7,800  acres  on  the  Schuylkill,  adjoining  the 
Welsh  tract  was  patented  to  her  the  24th  of  8th  month 
of  the  same  year.  Of  this  she  retained  possession  till 
1736.  In  his  letters  Penn  calls  her  Tishe  and 
mentions  her  increasing  desire  to  return,  her  illness 
and  how  after  the  first  five  days  of  the  voyage  she 
continued  in  good  health.  When  arrangements  had 
been  made  for  returning,  according  to  the  custom  of 
Friends  she  made  application  for  a  certificate  of 
removal  which  was  granted  and  read  as  follows : 

From  our  Monthly  Meeting  of  Women  Friends  in 
Philadelphia,  the  27th  of  7th  month,  1701. 

To  our  worthy  and  well  deloved  sisters  in  London, 
Bristol,  or  wherever  these  may  come,  grace,  mercy, 
am!  peace,  from  God  the  Father,  be  greatly  multiplied 
anK):ig  you  all.     Amen. 


ACCOUNT   OF    LETITIA    PENN.  393 

These  may  certify  you,  that  our  worthy  and  well 
beloved  friend,  Letitia  Penn,  intending  to  cross  seas 
with  her  honourable  parents,  hath  for  good  order's 
sake  desired  a  certificate  from  us,  and  we  can  freely 
certify  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  she  hath  well 
behaved  herself  here,  very  soberly,  and  according  to 
the  good  instructions  which  she  has  received  in  the 
way  of  truth,  being  well  inclined,  courteously  car- 
riaged,  and  sweetly  tempered  in  her  conversation 
amongst  us,  and  also  a  diligent  comer  to  meeting,  and 
hope  she  hath  plentifully  received  the  dew  which 
hath  fallen  upon  God's  people,  to  her  settlement,  and 
established  in  the  same. 

"  She  is  free  from  any  engagement  on  the  account  of 
marriage,  as  far  as  we  know,  and  our  desires  are  ear- 
nestly for  her  preservation,  that  she  may  faithfully  serve 
the  God  of  her  fathers,  that  her  green  years  being  sea- 
soned with  grace,  may  bud  and  blossom,  and  bring 
forth  ripe  fruits  to  the  praise  of  God,  and  the  comfort 
of  his  people,  which  is  the  true  desire  of  your  friends 
and  sisters  in  the  near  relationship  of  the  unchangeable 
truth.  Signed  on  behalf  of  and  by  appointment  of  the 
meeting." 

She  was  married  to  Wm.  Aubrey  20th  of  6th  month, 
1702,  about  nine  months  after  her  arrival  in  England. 
Her  father,  in  a  letter  to  James  Logan,  dated  6th  of  7th 
month,  thus  mentions  it :  "  My  daughter  is  married 
next  Fifth  day  will  be  three  weeks.  We  have  brought 
her  home,  where   I    write,  a  noble  house  for  the  city. 


394  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

and  other  things  I  hope  well."  Respecting  this 
affair  John  Stoughton  makes  the  following  remarks 
(Wm.  Penn  the  Founder,  London,  1882,  pp.  318-19): 
"  Some  said  Letitia  at  the  time  was  under  an  engage- 
ment to  William  Masters,  and  when  the  persons  who 
signed  the  certificate  heard  this,  they  wished  to  recall 
it,  whereupon  much  controversy  ensued.  For  soon 
after  her  return  to  England  she  was  married  to  one 
William  Aubrey.  Certainly  we  find  her  brother  say- 
ing in  a  letter  from  London,  *  My  sister  Letitia  has,  I 
believe,  a  very  good  sort  of  man,  that  makes  a  good 
husband  :  William  Masters,  whatever  ground  he  had 
for  it  in  Pennsylvania,  made  a  mighty  noise  here,  but 
it  lasted  not  long.'  The  father  also  remarked  that  she 
was  married,  adding :  *  But  S.  Penington's,  if  not  S. 
Harwood's,  striving  for  William  Masters  against  faith, 
truth,  and  righteousness,  will  not  be  easily  forgotten ; 
though  things  come  honourably  off,  to  his  and  the  old 
envy's  confusion,  his  father's  friends  nobly  testifying 
against  the  actions  of  both.'  Penn  has  not  clearly  ex- 
pressed himself  in  this  last  sentence,  but  I  gather  from 
it  that  there  had  been  a  family  dispute  ;  that  the  rela- 
tions of  Letitia's  mother  did  not  approve  of  the  match, 
and  herein  differed  from  the  father's  opinion.  He 
clearly  had  a  strong  feeling  of  displeasure,  and  makes 
no  secret  of  it." 

In  the  work  on  "  The  Penns  and  Peningtons  (Lon- 
don,, p.  418)  mention  is  made  that  Letitia  Aubrey's 
husband  having  got  a  portion  in  money  with  her  and 


THE  PROPRIETARY  NO  FINANCIER.       395 

a  promise  of  land  in  Pennsylvania,  ten  thousand  acres 
were  bequeathed  to  her."  We  feel  positive  that  we 
somewhere  saw  in  the  receipts  and  expenditures 
amongst  the  Penn  manuscripts  that  this  portion  had 
been  fixed  at  ;£"2,ooo  Sterling,  for  which  Penn  had 
given  obligations,  and  that  for  several  years  thereafter 
had  been  in  the  practice  of  paying  him  the  interest 
thereon.  To  a  man  so  in  debt  this  sum  appears  enor- 
mous, but  presume  in  justice  to  Letitia  was  small 
enough  to  what  William  Penn,  Jr.,  had  already  cost 
him.  She  had  no  children  and  died  in  1745,  and  was 
buried  near  her  parents  at  Jordans.  She  had  made  a 
will,  dated  20th  of  5th  month,  1744,  and  which  was 
proven  5th  of  2d  month,  1746. 

It  has  been  the  practice  of  several  of  the  biographers 
of  Penn  to  dwell  on  the  obstinacy  of  Lord  Baltimore 
and  the  faithlessness  or  dishonesty  of  his  agents,  par- 
ticularly the  Fords,  as  the  causes  of  his  pecuniary  em- 
barrassments, without  a  word  of  reflection  as  to  his 
own  capacity  or  abilities  as  a  financier.  As  a  scholar  he 
possessed  literary  abilities  of  a  high  order,  and  as  a 
statesman  was  endowed  with  executive  qualifications, 
whose  ideas  were  even  in  advance  of  his  age,  and  at 
once  bold,  original  and  practical.  He  was  no  cold 
statue  as  some  would  build  up,  but  a  man  of  generous 
views,  benevolent  and  warm  hearted  even  to  impulsive- 
ness, hence  the  indulgent  parent,  the  liability  to  credu- 
lousness,  the  chief  causes  of  pecuniary  distress  and  ruin 
arising  directly  or  indirectly  from  its  promoters  in- 
debtedness and  extravagance. 


396  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

If  ever  a  mind  suffered  from  these  causes  it  was 
Penn's,  and  to  which  he  so  often  alludes  in  his  writings. 
In  his  parting  address  to  his  wife  and  children  at 
Worminghurst  on  the  4th  of  6th  month,  1682,  he 
says,  "  Ruin  not  yourselves  by  kindness  to  others  ;  for 
that  exceeds  the  bounds  of  friendship,  neither  will  a 
true  friend  expect  it."  This  he  should  also  have  par- 
ticularly heeded  and  wherein  he  alludes  also  to  his 
father-in-law  Springett  by  his  "  public-spiritedness  hav- 
ing worsted  his  estate."  He  thus  wrote  to  Logan  in 
1 2th  month,  1702,  *'  I  strictly  charge  thee  to  represent 
to  Friends  that  I  am  forced  to  borrow  money,  adding 
debts  to  debts,  for  conferences,  counsel's  opinions, 
hearings,  etc.,  with  the  charges  for  them.  Guineas 
melting  away,  four,  five,  six  a  week,  and  sometimes  as 
many  in  a  day."  Again  he  wrote  eight  months  later, 
and  but  a  few  days  after  Letitia's  marriage.  "  I  never 
was  so  reduced;  for  Ireland  has  hardly  any  money. 
England  severe  to  her.  No  trade  but  hither  and  at 
England's  mercy  for  prices,  so  that  we  must  go  and 
eat  out  half  our  rents,  or  we  cannot  enjoy  them."  In 
another  letter  he  says,  "  I  am  sorry  to  have  such  a 
prospect  of  charges ;  two  houses  and  the  Governor's 
salary,  my  son's  voyage,  stay,  and  return  ;  and  no 
revenue  nor  Susquehanna  money  paid,  on  which  ac- 
count I  ventured  my  poor  child  so  far  away  from  his 
wife  and  pretty  children,  and  my  own  oversight.  Oh  ! 
Pennsylvania,  what  hast  thou  not  cost  me  ?  Above 
;^30,ooo  more  than   I   ever  got ;    two  hazardous  and 


THE    PROPRIETARY    NO    FINANCIER.  39/ 

fatiguing  voyages  ;  my  straits  and  slavery  here  ;  and 
my  child's  soul  almost." 

We  think  that  in  these  his  voluntary  doings  he  has 
been  unnecessarily  severe  and  perhaps  unthankful,  and 
shall  therefore  give  the  views  of  Judge  Quarry  on 
this  matter  in  his  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  dated 
May  30th,  1704  (see  Docs,  relating  to  Col.  Hist,  N. 
Y.,  vol.  IV.,  p.  1083),  and  who  appears  was  thus 
acting  under  instructions  from  the  Government  who, 
it  is  evident,  exercised  a  system  of  espionage. 

"  I  am  obliged  to  acquaint  your  Lordships  that 
besides  the  i^2,ooo  which  the  Assembly  gave  Mr. 
Penn  before  he  went  hence,  and  the  Excise  on  beer, 
wine,  &c.,  he  had  managed  the  people  so  with  his 
specious  promises,  that  he  got  a  subscription  from 
all  the  severall  meetings  throughout  the  whole  Pro- 
vince, which  by  a  very  modest  computation  amounts 
to  ;^2500,  one  of  the  original  subscriptions  and  an 
original  receipt  from  his  Secretary  and  Receiver 
General  to  the  Collector;  I  have  in  my  possession, 
a  copy  of  which  is  here  enclosed  by  which  your 
Lordships  will  see  the  pretences  he  uses  to  impose 
upon  the  poor  people,  and  to  gain  his  point,  so  that 
by  these  ways  together  with  the  Quit  rents.  Super- 
numerary land,  and  the  constant  sale  of  land,  the 
Country  is  quite  drained  of  all  the  money,  there  is 
scarce  enough  left  to  go  to  market." 

In  his  parting  instructions  to  Logan,  the  3d  of  9th 
month,  1 70 1,  he  stated  among  the  rest  that  he  should 


398  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

"  get  in  the  Friends  subscriptions,"  and  as  these  were 
continued  for  some  time  after  Judge  Quarry's  report 
may  have  considerably  exceeded  said  sum.  It  is  re- 
markable how  silent  this  matter  has  remained,  we 
believe  none  of  Penn's  biographers  make  any  mention 
of  it,  and  the  whole  amount  thus  received  by  him  it  is 
likely  was  never  made  known.  In  his  Will,  made  at 
New  Castle,  October  30th,  1701,  Penn  thus  alluded  to 
the  cause  of  his  financial  troubles  :  *'  To  do  good  with- 
out gain,  yea  sometimes  for  evil,  and  to  consume  my 
own  to  serve  others,  has  been  my  greatest  burden.  An 
infirmity  having  a  mind  not  only  just  but  kind  even  to 
a  fault.  For  it  has  made  me  hardly  so  just  by  means 
of  debts  thereby  contracted  as  my  integrity  would 
have  made  me." 

On  this  subject  Robert  Sutcliff,  a  Friend  from  Eng- 
land, relates  an  anecdote  that  he  had  received  in  1 805 
(Travels,  p.  104),  from  an  old  family  he  had  been 
visiting  in  Merion,  Montgomery  county.  "  At  this 
place,"  he  says,  "  I  was  told  that  as  William  Penn  was 
once  coming  up  from  New  Castle  to  Philadelphia,  a 
Friend  in  the  vessel  remarked  that  both  the  wind  and 
the  tide  were  against  them ;  William  Penn  im- 
mediately replied,  that  *  himself  had  been  sailing 
against  wind  and  tide  all  his  life ! '  This  reply  was  very 
descriptive  of  the  difficulties  which  this  great  man  en- 
countered in  the  world." 

As  respects  the  holding  of  slaves  and  the  subject  of 
slavery  Penn's  views  were  decidedly  in  advance  of  his 


THE    PROPRIETARY    NO    FINANCIER.  399 

age,  and  that  for  himself  his  character  stands  undimin- 
ished. By  his  Will  made  at  New  Castle,  the  30th  of 
8th  month,  1 701,  he  gives  his  "blacks  their  freedom  as 
is  under  my  hand  already."  Hannah  Penn,  in  a  letter 
dated  London,  9th  of  3d  month,  1720,  to  her  cousin, 
Rebecca  Blackfan,  at  Pennsbury,  says,  "  The  young 
blacks  must  be  disposed  of  to  prevent  their  increasing 
charge.  I  have  offered  my  daughter  Aubrey  one,  but 
she  does  not  care  for  any,  I  would  however  have  the 
likeliest  boy  reserved,  and  bred  up  for  reading  and 
sobriety  as  intending  him  for  myself,  or  one  of 
my  children ;  about  which  I  design  to  write  to  J. 
Logan,  for  if  Sue  promises  a  good  industrious  servant 
and  sober  I  would  have  her  the  more  tenderly  used 
than  I  had  intended." 

Accordingly  she  wrote  to  Logan  the  6th  of  the  fol- 
lowing month  :  "  I  find  from  my  Cousin  Blackfan  that 
there  are  several  small  negroes  at  Pennsbury  incapable 
of  working  if  so  it  is  hard  I  should  be  at  the  expense 
of  keeping  them  on  my  charge  and  as  that  estate 
belongs  to  my  son  Penn,  wherefore  I  must  desire  thou 
wilt  consider  of  it  and  dispose  of  them  to  the  best 
advantage.  Though  I  would  not  have  poor  Sue  sold 
to  one  that  would  use  her  hardly  nor  if  possible  have 
the  children  separated  from  her.  I  have  offered  my 
daughter  Aubrey  one  of  them,  but  she  declines  it,  yet 
I  would  have  the  handsomest  and  best  disposed  boys 
reserved  for  me  and  I  would  have  an  inventory  taken 
and  sent  over  though  there  is  no  need  to  remove  them 


400  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

till  my  son  has  wrote  to  me  about  it  which  he  has  not 
yet  or  if  he  should  order  any  body  to  take  possession 
of  the  place." 

To  this  Logan  did  not  reply  till  the  i  ith  of  3d 
month,  1 72 1,  nearly  a  year  afterwards.  '*  The  Pro- 
prietor," he  says,  "  in  a  Will  left  with  me  at  his  de- 
parture, hence  gave  all  his  Negroes  their  freedom  but 
that  is  entirely  private,  however  there  are  very  few  left. 
Sam  died  soon  after  your  departure  hence  and  his 
brother  James  very  lately,  Chevalier  by  a  written  order 
from  his  Master  had  his  liberty  several  years  ago,  so 
that  there  is  none  left  but  Sue  whom  Letitia  claims,  or 
did  claim  as  given  to  her  when  she  went  to  England 
but  how  rightfully  I  know  not  these  things  you  can 
best  discuss.  She  has  several  children  there  are  be- 
sides two  old  Negroes  quite  worn  out  the  remainder 
of  three  which  I  recovered  near  eighteen  years  ago  of 
E.  Gibb's  estate." 

Respecting  Pennsbury  in  this  letter  he  says,  *'  I  have 
lately  sent  for  the  books,  hither  but  the  goods  after 
about  twenty  years  age  added  to  them,  thou  may  as- 
sure thyself  are  much  impaired.  I  wish  some  order 
were  given  about  the  house  which  is  now  ruinous. 
Buildings  in  this  country  as  thou  art  sensible  being 
but  of  small  duration,  compared  with  those  of  Europe. 
I  have  not  for  some  years  had  one  farthing  from 
Rebecca,  the  plantation  she  says  being  scarce  able  to 
maintain  itself  which  I  know  to  be  too  true  a  story  by 
the    experience    I    have  of  one    near    Germantown." 


AFFAIRS    AT    PENNSBURV.  4OI 

After  he  had  arrived  in  England  the  Proprietary  had 
strictly  charged  his  Secretary  Logan  to  "  mind  that 
the  leads  be  mended,"  we  do  not  know  of  it  having 
been  done,  and  from  the  tradition  of  the  neighborhood 
it  was  this  cause  that  brought  about  the  very  damage 
he  mentions. 

It  is  apparent  by  this  correspondence  that  Hannah 
Penn  was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  Will  that  her  hus- 
band had  made,  though  it  is  quite  probable  that  she 
was  with  him  at  the  time  at  New  Castle.  According  to 
Logan's  letter  there  must  have  been  at  least  seven  full 
grown  negro  slaves  at  Pennsbury  in  1704,  of  which 
three  had  been  received  from  an  estate  probably  for 
debt,  without  counting  the  children.  It  is  true  the 
Will  of  1 70 1  was  overruled  by  that  of  17 12  in  which 
no  mention  is  made  of  their  liberation,  but  it  appears 
that  had  been  already  provided  for  in  another  paper 
probably  held  by  Logan,  and  of  whose  existence  we 
know  nothing.  Ellis  is  clearly  mistaken  (Life  of 
Penn,  p.  405)  where  he  says,  "There  is  no  proof  of 
Bancroft's  assertion  that  Penn  lived  and  died  a  holder 
of  slaves.  The  utmost  that  can  be  shown,  by  the  evi- 
dence of  documents  and  Penn's  cash  books,  is  that 
he  hired  a  few,  the  slaves  of  others." 

In  relation  to  Penn  and  slavery  in  America,  Dix- 
on eloquently  remarks,  '*  His  latest  on  the  colonial 
legislature,  was  in  behalf  of  the  poor  negroes.  Ten 
years  before  this  period,  he  had  tried  in  vain  to  get 
26 


402  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

a  formal  recognition  of  their  claims  as  human  be- 
ings ;  but  the  question  of  slavery  had  made  rapid 
progress  in  the  interval,  thanks  to  the  efforts  of  his 
simple  and  earnest  disciples  from  W^orms  and  Kirch- 
heim, — and  his  own  ideas  had  also  undergone  a  con- 
siderable development.  The  Assembly  in  1 7 1 1 , 
passed  an  act  declaring  their  importation  for  the  fu- 
ture, under  any  condition,  absolutely  prohibited.  But 
as  soon  as  the  law  reached  England,  to  receive  the 
usual  confirmation  of  the  Crown,  it  was  peremptorily 
cancelled.  The  germs,  however,  of  truth,  humanity, 
and  justice,  were  planted  in  the  colony,  and  in  due 
season  came  the  harvest.  It  was  only  with  the  re- 
volt against  England,  that  freedom  came  to  any  part 
of  the  black  race  in  America." 

Allusion  has  been  made  as  to  whether  Penn  had 
brought  up  his  children  in  his  religious  faith,  and  if 
so,  how  long  did  they  conform  to  the  same? 
William  Penn,  Jr.,  during  the  lifetime  of  his  father, 
joined  the  Episcopal  Church,*  but  his  recklessness 
was  such  that  he  could  by  no  means  be  considered  a 
consistent  member.  Letitia,  we  are  satisfied,  lived  and 
died  in  his  faith.  Thomas  Penn  came  to  this  Province 
with  a  certificate  from  the  Two  Weeks  Meeting  in 
London,  dated  8th  of  3d  month,  1732,  as  did  also  his 
elder  brother  John,  which  was  duly  recorded  in  the 
minutes   of  the    Philadelphia  Monthly  Meeting  from 


*  He  no   doubt  had  been  married  by  Friends'  ceremony,  as  his  father-in-law, 
Charlts  Jones,  was  a  member  of  the  Meeting  at  Bristol. 


AFFAIRS    AT    PENNSBURY.  403 

whence  we  have  this  information.  Some  time  after 
Thomas  left  the  faith,  but  as  far  as  we  know  John  re- 
tained it  to  the  last.  On  this  subject  it  has  been  a  pre- 
vailing opinion  that  his  children  had  all  early  forsook 
the  Friends,  which  it  will  be  seen  is  not  the  fact. 

Mention  has  been  made  that  Penn  had  recommended 
his  cousin,  Wm.  Markham,  as  Deputy  Governor  the 
2d  of  5th  month,  1703.  However  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed Register-General  of  Pennsylvania  the  29th  of 
I  St  month  previous  in  the  place  of  John  Moore,  who 
refused  to  yield  him  the  office.  He  died  in  Philadelphia 
the  1 2th  of  4th  month,  1 704.  He  left  a  will  which 
may  be  seen  in  the  Register's  office,  and  bequeathed 
the  bulk  of  his  property  to  his  wife ;  he  had  an  only 
child,  a  daughter  of  whom  mention  has  been  made  in 
a  previous  chapter.  He  was  the  owner  of  several 
slaves,  one  of  which,  an  Indian  boy  born  in  1700  and 
called  Ectus  Frankson,  was  to  be  manumitted  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four,  unless  his  wife  by  a  special  deed 
should  otherwise  direct. 

In  chapter  XVIII.  of  this  work,  we  gave  statistics 
relating  to  the  Society  of  Friends  on  the  departure  of 
Penn  in  1684,  of  which  mention  was  made  of  eighteen 
meetings  previously  organized.  We  now  give  the 
same  on  his  departure  in  9th  month,  170 1.  At  this 
time  there  were  in  Philadelphia,  including  the  present 
Montgomery  county,  eleven,  in  Bucks,  six,  and  in 
Chester,  including  the  present  Delaware  county,  eleven ; 
making   altogether   twenty-eight    meetings,  of  which 


404  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

probably  three-fourths  had  houses  of  worship  erected, 
showing  an  increase  of  nine  or  nearly  one-third  the  en- 
tire number  in  seventeen  years.  In  1 702  it  is  supposed 
that  near  one-half  the  whole  population  of  the  Province 
were  Friends.  James  Logan,  in  a  letter  to  Penn  writ- 
ten in  Third  month  of  said  year,  estimated  that  Phila- 
delphia contained  half  the  population  of  the  Province, 
and  of  which  about  one-third  were  Friends,  but  that 
in  the  country  they  were  largely  in  the  majority. 


OPINIONS    OF    PENNS    LABORS    AND    POLICY.        405 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

DIVERS    OPINIONS    RESPECTING    THE    RESULTS  OF    PENN's 

LABORS    AND    POLICY,    PARTICULARLY    IN    RELATION 

TO    HIS    LAST    VISIT    TO    THE    COLONY. 

As  we  have  arrived  at  the  concluding  chapter  we 
propose  to  give  the  opinions  of  various  persons  re- 
specting the  results  of  the  Proprietary's  policy  and 
labors  for  the  advancement  of  his  colony,  particularly 
relating  to  his  second  visit  here  in  1699  to  the  time  of 
his  departure.  Those  that  refer  to  his  first  stay  have 
been  given  in  chapter  XVII.  Such  encomiums  possess 
considerable  interest,  and  go  to  show  the  various  opin- 
ions that  men  may  entertain  or  pass  on  a  subject  when 
viewed  from  different  positions.  This  diversity  is  not 
only  instructive  but  suggestive,  and  enables  us  the 
better  to  form  our  own  judgments  on  matters  which 
otherwise  might  be  more  perplexing. 

Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  in  his  Address  delivered  before 
the  American  Philosophical  Society,  June  6th,  1821, 
thus  eloquently  speaks  of  Penn  : 

"  I  should  love  to  dwell  on  the  character  of  our 
immortal  founder,  and  to  point  out,  by  numerous  ex- 
amples, that  astonishing  ascendency  over  the  minds  of 


406  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

the  mass  of  mankind,  which  enabled  him  to  raise  a 
flourishing  and  powerful  commonwealth  by  means  of 
all  others  the  most  apparently  inadequate.  To  acquire 
and  secure  the  possession  of  an  extensive  country, 
inhabited  by  numerous  tribes  of  warlike  savages,  with- 
out arms,  without  forts,  without  the  use  or  even  the 
demonstration  of  physical  force,  was  an  experiment 
which  none  but  a  superior  mind  would  have  conceived, 
which  none  but  a  master  spirit  could  have  successfully 
executed.  Yet  this  experiment  succeeded  in  a  manner 
that  has  justly  excited  the  astonishment  of  the  whole 
world.  '  Of  all  the  colonies  that  ever  existed,'  says 
Ebelung,  *  none  was  ever  founded  on  so  philanthropic 
a  plan,  none  was  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  charac- 
ter of  its  founder,  none  practiced  in  a  greater  degree 
the  principles  of  toleration,  liberty  and  peace,  and  none 
rose  and  flourished  more  rapidly  than  Pennsylvania. 
She  was  the  youngest  of  the  British  Colonies  established 
before  the  eighteenth  century,  but  it  was  not  long 
before  she  surpassed  most  of  her  elder  sisters  in  popu- 
lation, agriculture  and  general  prosperity.' 

"  For  during  the  fifteen  years  which  followed  the 
departure,  until  his  next  return  in  1699,  history  will 
have  to  picture  far  different  scenes.  The  territories 
separated  from  the  province,  a  schism  in  the  church, 
and  factions  in  the  state,  carried  to  such  a  degree  of 
violence  as  to  afford  a  pretext  to  the  British  Ministry 
to  take  into  their  hands  the  government  of  the  country, 
and  ignominiously  annex  it  to  that  of  a  neighboring 


OPINIONS    OF    PENN  S    LABORS    AND    POLICY.       407 

colony.  The  historian  will  tell  how  William  Penn 
rose  superior  to  all  these  difficulties,  recovered  his  former 
authority,  and  by  his  presence  here,  seduced  all  factions, 
re-united  the  lower  counties,  and  restored  the  land  to 
its  former  unanimity  and  peace.  It  was  then  that  after 
three  different  constitutions  had  been  successively  tried 
and  found  inefficient,  he  gave  to  Pennsylvania  that 
charter,  which  continued  in  force  until  the  revolution, 
and  which  the  people  received  with  expressions  of 
gratitude  too  soon  afterwards  forgotten.  Unfortunately, 
this  charter  contained  the  seeds  of  that  division  between 
the  province  and  territories,  which  after  his  departure 
broke  out  again,  never  to  be  healed. 

"  It  will  ever  be  a  source  of  regret  that  William  Penn 
did  not,  as  he  had  contemplated  fixed  his  permanent 
residence  in  his  province,  and  that,  after  the  lapse  of 
nearly  two  years,  he  again  embarked  for  England, 
whence  it  had  been  decreed  by  Providence  that  he 
never  should  return.  There  is  too  much  reason  to 
believe  that  in  this  he  yielded  to  the  influence  of  his 
wife  and  of  his  daughter  Letitia,  who  did  not  appear  to 
have  been  pleased  with  a  residence  in  the  country. 
Yet  Hannah  Penn  was  a  woman  of  great  merit,  and  her 
name  will  shine  conspicuously,  and  with  honor  in  our 
history.  But  when  we  consider  her  rank,  education, 
and  fortune,  and  the  situation  of  Pennsylvania  at  that 
time,  we  need  not  wonder  that  she  preferred  the  society 
of  her  friends  in  her  native  land  to  a  life  of  hardship 
and  self-denial  in  a  newly  settled  colony.     And  it  is 


408  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

easy  to  conceive  how  William  Penn's  return  may  have 
been  postponed  amidst  efforts  to  conquer  her  reluctance, 
until  other  circumstances  intervened  which  prevented 
it  altogether." 

"  Thus  we  have  given,"  states  Oldmixon  (Brit.  Emp. 
in  America,  1708),  ''the  reader  as  full  an  account,  as 
we  could  get  by  the  best  information  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  was,  to  use  the  Proprietary's  own  words,  made 
at  once  a  country.  For  it  is  certain  no  colony  in 
America  came  to  such  perfection  in  so  little  time,  both 
in  trade,  settlements  and  numbers.  Every  one  of  the 
six  counties  has  a  quarterly  and  monthly  Sessions,  and 
Assizes  twice  a  year.  There  is  a  Sheriff,  for  each  shire 
or  county,  and  Justice  is  frequently  and  regularly  ad- 
ministered. The  six  counties  run  along  twenty  or 
thirty  miles  upon  the  rivers  and  bays,  and  backwards, 
as  far  as  they  are  planted ;  in  some  places  above 
twenty  miles. 

"  The  inhabitants  consist  of  people  of  almost  all 
nations  and  religions;  but  the  opinion  of  the  Quakers 
prevails  so  far,  that  they  are  by  much  the  majority  as 
the  English  are  of  all  the  other  nations.  And  the  Eng- 
lish, Dutch,  Swedes,  French,  Indians  and  Negroes,  in 
the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  may  modestly  be  com- 
puted at  35,000  souls.  All  provisions  are  reasonable, 
but  labour  dear,  which  makes  it  a  good  poor  man's 
country;  husbandmen  and  mechanics  getting;^  15  and 
;^20  wages  per  annum  for  their  work,  besides  diet ; 
such  as  carpenters,  smiths,  joiners,  tailors,  shoemakers. 


OPINIONS    OF    PENN  S    LABORS    AND    POLICY.       409 

cartwrights,  husbandmen,  &c.  By  which  the  reader 
may  see,  that  the  temptation  for  people  to  go  thither, 
to  mend  their  fortunes,  to  live  pleasantly  and  plenti- 
fully, is  so  great,  that  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  this 
province  will  get  the  start  of  all  the  other  English 
settlements  on  the  continent  of  America." 

*'  Though  less  cruel  than  the  Spaniards,"  remarks 
Dixon  (Biog.  of  Penn),  "  in  their  greed  of  gold,  the 
English  had  scarcely  proved  themselves  more  just  or 
rational.  Even  the  Puritan  settlers  had  been  at  con- 
tinual war  with  the  natives  of  the  soil,  and  more  than 
one  scene  of  treachery  and  atrocity  stains  the  memory 
of  the  New  England  pilgrims.  Penn  strong  in  his 
belief  in  human  goodness,  would  not  arm  his  followers 
even  for  their  own  defence.  In  his  province  he  had 
resolved  that  the  sword  should  cease  to  be  the  symbol 
of  authority ;  neither  soldier  nor  implement  of  war 
should  be  ever  seen  ;  he  would  rely  entirely  on  justice 
and  courtesy  to  win  the  confidence  of  those  whom  it 
had  hitherto  been  the  vice  of  his  countrymen  to  treat 
only  as  enemies.  The  world  laughed  at  the  enthusiast 
who  thought  of  placing  his  head  under  the  scalping 
knifes  of  the  Lenni  Lenape ;  but  his  stern  lieutenant, 
who  had  known  something  of  the  horrors  of  our  civil 
war,  did  not  despair  of  success.  An  eternal  witness  of 
Penn's  sagacity  is  the  fact  that  not  one  drop  of  Quaker 
blood  was  ever  shed  by  an  Indian." 

James  Bowden  in  his  History  of  Friends  in 
America  (vol.   II.,  pp.  123-4),  mentions,  "  When  Wil- 


410  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Ham  Penn  founded  his  colony  there  were  states  on 
that  continent,  in  which  the  non  resisting  principles  of 
Christianity  were  recognized ;  this  as  we  have  seen, 
was  the  case  in  the  little  colony  of  Rhode  Island,  and 
in  the  more  recently  established  plantations  of  East 
and  West  New  Jersey.  In  political  importance  and 
general  interest,  however,  these  provinces  bear  no 
comparison  to  that  of  Pennsylvania.  Its  extent,  its 
prosperity,  its  rapid  growth  in  population,  the  entire 
recognition  of  equal  rights,  the  democratic  form  of  its 
government,  together  with  the  large  proportion  of 
Friends  among  the  early  settlers, — all  constitute  to 
render  that  portion  of  the  history  of  the  province, 
during  which  it  was  conducted  on  the  Christian  prin- 
ciples of  its  enlightened  founder,  one  of  no  ordinary 
moment. 

"  The  early -settlers  in  this  province,  were  mostly  in 
religious  profession  with  William  Penn.  The  consti- 
tution, therefore,  which  he  had  framed  harmonized 
with  their  views  of  civil  things ;  and  whether  in  the 
Council,  or  in  the  Assembly,  as  officers  of  the  peace, 
jurymen,  or  constables,  Friends  not  only  took  their 
full  share  in  serving  the  state,  but,  from  the  confidence 
reposed  in  them  by  the  other  colonists,  the  civil 
officers  were  for  a  long  time,  mostly  occupied  by  them. 
In  the  Council  of  1683,  composed  of  eighteen  repre- 
sentatives, six,  it  appears,  were  ministers  in  our  Soci- 
ety, and  a  still  .larger  number  of  Friends  in  that  station 
were   members  of  the  Assembly.     During  his  stay  in 


OPINIONS    OF    PENN  S    LABORS    AND    POLICY.       4 1  I 

the  Province,  William  Penn  always  presided  at  the 
Council;  and  in  the  infant  days  of  the  colony,  so 
largely  were  the  practices  of  our  religious  Society, 
recognized  among  the  representatives,  that  instead  of 
opening  the  proceedings  of  the  day  with  formal 
prayer,  as  in  the  Parliament  at  home,  and  in  the 
Assemblies  of  neighboring  provinces,  they  waited  in 
solemn  silence  upon  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh, 
and  inwardly  craved  his  aid,  and  his  blessing,  in  their 
efforts  thus  to  serve  their  fellow  men. 

"  At  the  decease  of  William  Penn  (ib.  p.  1 47),  the 
European  population  of  his  province  is  estimated  to 
have  numbered  not  less  than  40,000,  of  whom  one- 
fourth  were  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
The  remaining  portion  of  the  population  were  engaged 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  occupied  the  coun- 
try for  about  one  hundred  miles  along  the  banks  of 
the  Delaware,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  west  of 
that  river.  About  one-half  of  the  community  were 
Friends;  the  other  religious  bodies  being  chiefly 
Presbyterians,  Lutherans  and  Episcopalians." 

"  An  Examination  of  the  various  charges  brought 
by  historians  against  William  Penn  both  as  a  man  and 
as  a  political  Governor,"  was  the  subject  of  a  paper 
read  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 
February  3d,  1830,  by  Job  R.  Tyson,  from  which  we 
select  the  following  extract :  "  Penn,  too  as  a  man  and 
a  Christian,  was  anxious  to  reconstruct  the  social  and 
moral  edifice  upon  purer  principles  than  the  old ;    but 


412  \VM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

though  intent  upon  this,  he  used  neither  intolerance 
nor  cruelty  to  aid  him  in  the  workmanship.  No  evi- 
dence of  either  is  perceptible  in  his  code.  It  pro- 
claimed liberty  to  all,  and  hailed  with  open  arms  pro- 
fessors of  every  religious  persuasion.  Let  the  sanguin- 
ary penalties  of  the  New  England  code  of  1 641,  be 
placed  in  opposition  to  its  mild  inflictions ;  or  let  its 
universal  toleration  be  contrasted  with  the  laws  of 
Connecticut,  passed  in  1705,  against  heretics.  If  more 
be  wanting,  it  may  be  added,  that  Burke,  Anderson, 
Oldmixon,  Father  O'Leary,  Ebelung,  and  most  of 
Penn's  biographers  unite  in  attributing  the  superiority 
of  Pennsylvania,  in  social  happiness  and  domestic 
quiet,  over  the  other  settlements  in  America,  to  the 
early  influence  of  his  laws."  Respecting  the  act  of 
1705,  Mr.  Tyson  remarks  that  it  "was  abolished  by 
Queen  Anne.  After  proscribing  all  kinds  of  heretics, 
it  provides  in  particular,  that  Quakers  shall  be  im- 
prisoned or  sent  out  of  the  colony ;  that  all  unneces- 
sary discourse  with  Quakers,  or  the  possession  of  their 
books  shall  be  penal ;  and  that  the  master  of  a  vessel 
who  shall  land  Quakers  without  carrying  them  away, 
shall  pay  the  penalty  of  i^20." 

"  The  history  of  the  province,"  remarks  Edward 
Armstrong  (Address,  Hist.  Society,  1858,  p.  32),  "in 
its  relation  to  the  interests  and  happiness  of  Penn,  is  a 
melancholy  one.  It  touches  the  heart.  The  strife 
between  his  deputies  and  the  Assembly — the  ingrati- 
tude,  unjust  and    grasping   spirit  of  the   people — the 


OPINIONS    OF    PENNS    LABORS    AND    POLICY.       413 

misrepresentations  of  his  enemies,  Quarry,  Lloyd  and 
their  adherents — his  difficulties  with  Lord  Baltimore 
— the  consequences  of  his  misplaced  confidence  in  his 
fraudulent  agents,  the  Fords — his  distressing  pecuniary 
embarrassments — ^the  constant  threats  of  taking  his 
government  from  him — the  political  persecutions  which 
he  underwent  in  England — in  short,  the  incidents  of 
his  troubled  career  from  the  day  on  which  he  landed 
here,  until  a  merciful  Providence  clouded  his  intellect, 
and  dulled  the  sharpness  of  his  sorrows,  form  as  pain- 
ful a  picture  as  was  ever  presented  to  the  eye  of  sym- 
pathizing humanity." 

"  It  is  possible,"  says  James  Parton,  "  to  overpraise 
the  most  virtuous  action  ;  and  perhaps  William  Penn 
has  received  for  his  conduct  to  the  Indians  more  com- 
mendation than  is  due.  Nevertheless  the  act  was  wise 
and  right:  and  so  let  it  stand.  His  greater  glory 
was,  that  in  his  Province  of  Pennsylvania  he  did  not 
follow  the  bad  example  set  him  by  the  Puritans  of  New 
England,  in  persecuting  people  for  the  sake  of  their 
religious  principles.  Quakers  were  whipped,  branded, 
banished,  pilloried,  hanged,  in  New  England ;  but  no 
Puritan  was  ever  molested  for  religion's  sake  in  Penn- 
sylvania. This  was  due,  chiefly  and  immediately,  to 
the  wisdom  and  magnanimity  of  William  Penn,  and  it 
will  remain  a  glory  to  his  memory  forever.  It  was 
this  which  gave  to  Pennsylvania  its  rapid  prosperity  ; 
for  while  New  England,  which  was  a  refuge  only  for 
Puritans,    ceased   to   attract  emigrants  when  Puritans 


414  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

ceased  to  be  persecuted  in  England,  Pennsylvania  con- 
tinued for  a  century  to  receive  a  tide  of  virtuous  Prot- 
estants from  Sweden,  Norway,  England,  Germany,  and 
even  from  New  England  itself" 

Respecting  the  Indians,  says  Janney  (Life  of  Penn, 
p.  219),  "  It  is  certain  that  no  other  man  ever  attained 
so  great  an  influence  over  their  minds  ;  and  the  affec- 
tionate intercourse  between  them  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Pennsylvania,  which  continued  as  long  as  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  first  colonists  preserved  their  ascendency, 
is  the  most  beautiful  exemplification  afforded  in  history, 
that  the  peaceable  doctrines  of  Christ  are  adapted  to 
promote  the  happiness  of  man."  As  is  well  known, 
Penn  was  called  by  the  Iroquois  in  their  public 
speeches  Onas  and  by  the  Delawares  Miquon,  which 
in  both  languages  is  the  name  for  a  pen  or  quill. 

"  Nor  is  this  high  reputation,"  says  Macaulay, 
"  altogether  unmerited.  Penn  was,  without  doubt,  a 
man  of  eminent  virtues.  He  had  a  strong  sense  of 
religious  duty,  and  a  fervent  desire  to  promote  the 
happiness  of  mankind.  On  one  or  two  points  of  high 
importance,  he  had  notions  more  correct  than  were  in 
his  day  common,  even  among  men  of  enlarged  minds  ; 
and  as  the  proprietor  and  legislator  of  a  province 
which,  being  almost  uninhabited  when  it  came  into  his 
possession,  afforded  a  clear  field  for  moral  experiments, 
he  had  the  rare  good  fortune  of  being  able  to  carry 
his  theories  into  practice  without  any  compromise,  and 
yet  without  any  shock  to  existing  institutions.     He 


OPINIONS    OF    PENNS    LABORS    AND    POLICV.       415 

will  always  be  mentioned  with  honor  as  the  founder  of 
a  colony,  who  did  not,  in  his  dealings  with  a  savage 
people,  abuse  the  strength  derived  from  civilization, 
and  as  a  lawgiver,  who  in  an  age  of  persecution,  made 
religious  liberty  the  corner  stone  of  a  polity." 

"  William  Penn,"  said  Edmund  Burke,  '*  as  a  legis- 
lator, deserves  great  honor  among  all  men.  He 
created  a  Commonwealth  which,  from  a  few  hundreds 
of  indigent  refugees,  has  in  seventy  years  grown  to  a 
numerous  and  flourishing  people.  But  what  crowned 
all,  was  the  noble  charter  of  privileges,  by  which  he 
made  them  more  free,  perhaps,  than  any  people  on 
earth,  and  which,  by  securing  both  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  caused  the  eyes  of  the  oppressed  from  all  parts 
of  the  world,  to  look  to  his  country  for  relief  This 
one  act  of  godlike  wisdom  and  goodness,  has  settled 
Penn's  country  in  a  more  strong  and  permanent  man- 
ner than  the  wisest  regulations  could  have  done  on 
any  other  plan." 

"  In  spite  of  its  frequent  political  jars  and  bicker- 
ings," remarks  Ellis  (Life  of  Penn,  p.  406),  "  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania  was,  at  the  time  of  its 
founder's  death,  a  monument  to  his  wisdom  and 
benevolence.  It  numbered  then  a  population  of  sixty 
thousand,  and  Philadelphia  alone  contained  fourteen 
hundred  houses.  The  province  continued  to  be  owned 
and  governed  by  the  Penn  family  until  the  war  of  the 
revolution." 

"  That  such  a  character  as  William  Penn,"  remarks 


4l6  WM.  PENN    IN    AMERICA. 

Bowden,  "  should  have  had  many  biographers  cannot 
excite  surprise.  His  fame  may  be  said  to  be  world- 
wide, and  men  of  far  different  sentiments  have  inscribed 
his  name  on  the  pages  of  history,  as  one  of  the  most 
illustrious  of  his  age — an  age,  it  should  be  remembered, 
of  stirring  events  and  conspicuous  for  men  of  brilliant 
attainments."  Bancroft  says,  "  His  fame  is  now  as 
wide  as  the  world,"  and  Montesquieu  calls  him  *'  the 
modern  Lycurgus." 

These  encomiums  we  know  might  be  extended,  but 
our  desire  is  merely  to  select  such  as  possess  senti- 
ments in  which  we  generally  can  concur,  and  be 
restricted  to  a  moderate  chapter. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Abington  Monthly  Meeting  Records, 

71,  72,  86 

Account  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Markham, 

33;  by  Penn,  44,85,88,  114,120,132, 

144,  173,  219  ;  Pastorius,  131  ;  Thos. 

Paschall,  147;  Gabriel  Thomas,  190 ; 

Oldmixon, 408 

Account  West's  Painting  Great  Treaty,  76 
Acrelius  on  Official  Corruption,    .    .    .  296 

Allen,  Nathaniel 97 

Appeals  to  the  King, 21 

Arran,  Earlof, 143 

Armstrong,  Rdward,  Address,    .    .67,412 
Asheton,  Robert,  sheriff,  242 ;  Notice 
of,  243:  Penn's  Cousin,  289  ;    Clerk 

of  the  Courts, 364 

Assembly  at  IJpland,  73,  78 ;  at  New 
Castle,  274  ;  Meanness  to  Penn,  254, 
348  ;  Model  Message  to,  282  ;  Penn's 
Speech,  344  ;  Address  to  Penn,  346  ; 

Not  Harmonious, 349 

Atkins  and  Bradford  Reprimanded,  .  197 
Attention  of  Penn  to  America,  ...  17 
Aubrey,  William,  Marriage, 393 

Baltimore,  Lord,  Agents,  19  ;  Letters 
to  Marquis  of  Halifax,  92  ;  to  Penn, 
104,  107 ;  Blathewayte,  104  ;  Claims 

of, 156,  313 

Bancroft  on  the  Stuarts, 25 

Barbadoes  Island  on  Schuylkill,  .  .  .  167 
Bayard,  Nicholas,  I>etter  to  Penn,  .    .  138 

Bcale,  George,  Purchase 387 

Beaver  Skin  Tribute,  21  ;    Sent  to  the 

King,  89  ;  Trade  on  Schuylkill,    .    .  207 
Beekman.  Wm.,  Letter  to  Penn,  .   .   .  137 

Beggary  in  England, 46 

Bellomont,  Lord,  Gov.  N.  Y.,  240, 
246,  251,  253,  259,  260  ;  Penn's  Visit 
to,  278;  Respecting  Pirates,  279  ;  on 
his  Death,  307;  Condolence  to  the 
Countess,  308  ;  Biographical  Sketch,  309 

Bevan,  B  ,  Accident  to, 227 

Biographers  of  Penn,  .  305,  398,  407,  416 
Blackiston,    Governor    01    Maryland, 

224,  232,  276,  290 
Blue  Anchor  Tavern, 71 


PAGE. 

Boundary  Dispute  with  Baltimore,  83, 
87,  92,  "3,  "2,  125,  135,  137,  145, 

153.  155,  163,205,311,413 
Bowman,  Henry,  Charge  against,  .  .  97 
Brinsley,  Luke,  Ranger,     ,       ...  199 

Bristol  and  Buckingham, •  266 

British  Government 281 

Brooks,  Ed.  and  Ford, 136 

Brown,  James,  Suspected  of  Piracy, 
237 ;   Penn  on  the  Matter,  238  ;  Sent 

to  New  York,     ....       252 

Bucks  County,  Justices  for,  i6r  ;  Book 
of  Earmarks,  198 ;  Slow  Paying  Quit- 
rents,  200 ;  Highway  in,  264  ;  Elec- 
tions,      340 

Burlington  Monthly  Meeting,  ....    72 
Burlington,  Penn  gets  Supplies  from, 

260,  263,  275,  331 

Callowhill,  Thos.,  to  H.  Penn,     ...  571 
Carpenter,  Samuel,  244,  341,  342,372,  379 

Change  of  Names, 84 

Charles  II.,  Charter  from,  18  ;  Names 
Pennsylvania,  19 ;  Receives  Two 
Beaver  Skins  Yearly,  21  ;  Friendship 
for  Penn,  25  ;  Address  to  the  Colo- 
nists, 27 ;  Court  Opened  iahis  Name, 
SI ;  Penn  Presents  him  Beaver  and 
tter  Skins,  89  ;  Has  Sympathy  for 
Friends,  143  ;  Called  Justinian,  160; 
Penn  Visits  him,  172  ;  Death  of,  .  202 
Charter,  Royal  at  Harrisburg,  19 ; 
Powers  of,  20  ;  Penn's  Promise 
therefor,  24  ;    Petition  for  Lost,  25  ; 

for  Lower  Counties, 375 

Cheating  the  Governor, 269 

Chester,  Penn's  Residence,  88  ;  Court 
held  there,  230  ;  Penn  Partner  in  a 
Mill,  244  ;  Vane  of  Preserved,  245  ; 
Sheriff  of,  275  ;  Incorporated  a  Bor- 

^ough,      377 

City  Square, 129 

Clark,  Benjamin,  Printer, 56 

Clark,  Wm.,  138;   Penn's  Letter  to,  .  232 

Clarkson's  Errors, 69,  75,  169 

Clay poole,  Edw.,  Arrival, 137 


420 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Claypoole,  James,  Opinion  of  Penn,  47  ; 
Merchant  of  London,  53 ;  Letters 
from,  64,  77,  85  ;  Fenn's  Kindness  to, 
147  ;  Notice  of,  148  ;  Acts  as  Inter- 
preter,     150 

Coaquannock,     7^ 

Cock,  Capt.  Lasse,  40,  iii  ;  Interpre- 
ter,      148 

Coflfee  and  Chocolate, 269,  270 

Colonial  Money  Unequally  Valued,  .  280 
Commissioners  Sent  by  Penn,  ....    38 

Concessions  and  Conditions, 48 

Conshohocken,  or  Edge  Hill,    ....  109 
Coroner's  Office  Established,    ....    98 
Council,  How  Formed,  93 ;    Members 
of, 96;  No  Longer  Elected,  369  ;  Gor- 
don's Views  on,  37° 

County  Seals  Ordered, 98 

Courts  of  Inquiry  Established,  297; 
Judges  Commissioned,  298 ;  Its  Un- 
popularity,  300,301,302 

Culpepper,  Lord,  Letter  to  Penn,  84  ; 
Governor  of  Virginia,  89  ;  Visit  ex- 
pected from, 103 

Culprits,  Sentence  of, 136 

Deaths  on  the  Welcome, 64 

Deeds,  Indian  at  Harrisburg,  ....  107 
Delaware  Government,    ....  24,  32,  67 

Depeister,  Col., •  239,  347 

Dixon's  Defence  of  Penn,  .  .  .401,409 
Duke   of   York's   Release,  22  ;    Good 

Will  to  Penn,  23  ;  Friendship  for,  .  25 
Dungan,  Col.  Thomas,  135  ;  Writes  to 

King  about  Penn, 205,  274 

Du  Ponceau's  Eloquent  Remarks,  189,  405 

Edge  Hill  a  Boundary,        109 

Ellis  on  Boundary  Dispute,  313  ;  Error 

in  his  Biography, 401 

Emigration,  German  Pamphlets  on,  .  304 
Encroachments  of  Baltimore  resisted,  153 
England,  Condition  of  its  People,  .  45 
Evans,  John,  Proposed  for  Governor, 

389,  390 
Exports  to  go  only  to  England,    ...    20 

Extension  of  Privileges, 26 

Extent  of  Pennsylvania, 21 

Fairman,  Thomas,  41,  71;  limits  his 
House  to  Penn,  71  ;  His  Marriage, 
72  ;  Horseback  Journeys  with  Penn, 
74,  142  ;  the  Indian  Tract,  269  ;  Re- 
surveying  Manor  of  Moreland,  303  ; 
Defends  his  Services,  328  ;  Logan's 
111  Opinion,  330  ;  Notice  of,  ...  .  330 
Farmer,  Edward,  Interpreter,  .    .    .    .310 

Ferris,  Benjamin, 4°,  67 

Ferries  on  Schuylkill,  .    .        ....  258 

Fines  to  go  to  Building  Court-House,    137 

Finney,  Capt.  John, 388 

Fletcher,  Gov.  on   Penn,  212 ;     Com- 
mission Revoked, 215 


PAGE. 

Flower,  Enoch,  School, 140 

Foxes  for  England, 267 

Fox,   George,   Presented   with   Land,        • 
51 ;    Penn's  Letter  to  his  Widow,    .  171 

Frame  of  Government, 50 

Frankfort  Land  Company,    .  130,  305,  359 
Free   Society  of  Traders,  53  ;     Direc- 
tors of,  54  ;    Issue  a  Pamphlet,  54  ; 

Penn's  Letter  to, 128 

Friends  Worship  at  Fairman's  House, 
42,  100  ;  Essentially  Democratic,  57 ; 
Hold  Worship  at  Upland,  69  ;  Ac- 
count of  99  ;  in  1684,  94  ;  Rawle's 
Compliment,  195  ;  McCall's,  196  ; 
Bowden's,  410,  411  ;  Statistics  of, 
403  ;  Logan's  Estimate,  404  ;  Per- 
secution of, 409,  412,  413 

Fruit,  Abundance  of, 34 

Game,  Abundance  of, 35 

Germans,   Early   Arrival,  130;   Found 

Germantown,  132  ;    make  Extensive 

Purchase,   360;     Its   Location,  362  ; 

First  Opposers  to  Slavery,  ....  402 
Government  Indebtedness   to  Admiral 

Penn, 17 

Governor,  Powers  Vested  in,     ....    81 

Governor's  Earmark, 198 

Grant  of   Pennsylvania,  17 ;    of  West 

New  Jersey,   17 ;    Charter  to  Penn, 

18  :  of  Delaware, 23 

Grapes,  Wild,  Abundant, 146 

Great  Law  Passed, 79 

Growdon,  Joseph,  282,  286,  340,347; 

Biographical  Notice, 348 

Hamilton,  Gov.  Andrew,  276,  278,  353, 
375;  his  Death,  388;  Gives  Security 
for  Governor, 389 

Harrison,  James,  Steward  at  Penns- 
bury, ;  199 

Harrison,  Jos.,  Purchases  West's 
Treaty,      76 

Hans,  John,  Indian  Trader,   270,  271,  309 

Haverford  Meeting  House,     ....      261 

Heckoqucom,  Biogrephical  Sketch  of,  271 

Herman,  Ephraim,  Attorney,  66; 
Penn's  Letter  to,  68  ;  Letter  to  Penn, 102 

Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 
25,  40,  67,  74,  76,  90,  182,  195,  196, 
198,  222,  224,  343  ;  Memoirs  of,  85, 
118,  125,  160,  170,  201,  225  ;  Collec- 
tions of, 302 

Holme,  Thos  ,  Arrival,  40  :  Letter  to 
Indians,  41 ;  Mayor  of  New  Castle, 
70 ;  Surveyor  general,  72  ;  Notice 
of, 210 

Hutcheson,  George,  on  Evil  Reports, 

93,98 

Hyde,  Lord,  Notice  of, 90 

Indians  to  be  Kindly  Treated,  24 ;  to 
be  kept  Cvil,  23  ;  Markham's  Rela- 


INDEX. 


42 


PAGE. 

tion  to,  31  ;  Treats  with  at  Passyunk, 
33  ;  Their  Signatures,  34  ;  Penn's 
Regards  for,  36 ;  Letters  to  from 
Penn,  37,  40;  Desires  Peace  with 
them,  38,  40  ;  On  Settling  Difficulties, 
50;  Great  Ireaty  with,  74;  Purchases 
from,  3|Q,  io6, 109.  134,  136,  155,  272, 
274;  Character  by  Penn,  120;  Ex- 
emption Irom  Care,  121  ;  A  Bishop 
Intercedes  for,  127  ;  Right  to  the  Soil, 
127;  Christiana  Befriends  them,  127  ; 
Demand  Rum,  15^;  Rumors  About, 
178;  Their  Numbers  186;  Moral 
Improvement,  248;  Worship  for, 
249 ;  Visits  from,  259 ;  'iheir  To- 
hickon  Lands,  269 ;  Troublesome, 
270;  Difficulties  with,  310,  313; 
Delegation  to  Penn,  311;  King's 
Palace,  Conestoga,  318 ;  Penn's 
Travels  among,  319 ;  Advice  to 
Treat  with,  324 ;  Treaty  with  Five 
Nations, 346 

James  Duke  of  York,  66 ;  Cape  Hen- 
lopen  called    after    him,  84 ;    Penn 

Gives  him  Manors, 89 

Janney's    Biography  of  Penn,  57,  90 ; 

Errors  in 278,  319 

Jasper,  John, 54 

Jennings,  Samuel, 267 

Jurors   Attestation, 95 

Justices  New  Castle  Court, 70 

Key,  John,  first  born 104,105 

King  to    Levy  no  Taxes,  22  ;  Grants 

Delaware,  24  ;  Sends  Address,     .    .    27 
King's  Highway, 264,  273 

Lancaster,  Penn's  Journey  to,  ...    .  133 

Laws,  Penn's  Code  of, 191 

Leather  Stockings  Used, 342 

Legislator,  Qualifications  for,    .   .    .    .    8i 
Lehman,  P.L.,  Penn's  Secretary,    .      169 

Levick,  James  J., 55 

Liberty  of  Conscience 79 

Limestone  at  Mount  Toy, 367 

Lloyd,  David,  229  ;  Notice  of,  .   .    .    .  230 
Logan,    James,    Arrives    with    Penn, 
224;     at    Philadelphia,  228;    Early 
Deeds  on    Lands,   297 ;    on    Penn's 

Slaves 291,398,400 

Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  18,  126, 
163,  205,  212,  215,   219,  237, 
251,  278,  279,  335,  387 
Lumley,  Capt.,  John,  270,  Ship  Provi- 
dence, 283 ;   Penn's  Letter  on,   .    ,    .  283 

Manor  of  Springfield 142,  214 

Markham  Sent  to  America,  27  ;  Notice 
of,  28;  Penn's  Instructions  10,30; 
Arrival,  32  ;  Letters  from,  33  ;  to 
Prevent  Falsehood,  38  ;  Compliment 
of,    43;     Makes     Purchases,     m  ; 


PAGE. 

Agent  to  England,  113,  122;  Son-in- 
Law  Brown,  237;  Proposed  for 
Governor,  388 ;  Register  General,  .  403 
Maryland,  Proclamation  about,  .  .  .  136 
Masters,  Thomas  opposed  to  Penn,  .  301 
Masters,  Wm.  and  Letitia  Penn,  .  .  .  395 
Mauehhoughsin's  Land  on  Perkiomen,  155 
MeniDers  of  First  Assembly,     ....    78 

McCall,  Peter,  Address, 196 

Middletown    Monthly   Meeting    Rec- 
ords,    .   .    63 

Monument  on  Treaty  Ground,     ...    75 

Moore,  John,  Attorney-General,  229,  230, 

269,  379 

More,  Nicholas,  Physician,  53;  Arrival, 

77;  President  of  Assembly,  79;  Re- 

Duked,97:      apt.     Secretary,     102; 

Provincial  Judge,  163  ;    His  Manor, 

165,  303  ;  biog.  sketch, 166 

Morris,  Lewis,  Letter  to  Penn,    ...    48 

Negroes,  their  Moral  Improvement, 
248  ;  Worship  Provided,  249  ;  Slaves 
at  Pennsbury, 400 

New  Castle,  Grant  of,  23,  66 ;  Court  at, 
68,  71  ;  Vessels  Depart  Free,  77 ; 
Records  at,  95;  Sheriff  of,  275  ;  Penn 
Makes  his  Will, 373 

New  York  Governors,  23,  29,  217, 
278;  Boundary  Dispute,  135;  Money 
for  Defence, 345 

Nicholson,  Gov.  of  Va.,  224,  231,  276,  277, 
278,  280, 294 

Norris,  Isaac  on  Penn,  230  ;  Writes  to 
Ford,  253  ;  to  Daniel  Zacharv,  287, 
302,  348,  349;  Jeffry  Pennell,  306, 
367 ;  on  Penn's  Family,    .    .    .  307,  318 

Oaths,  Scruples  About, 95 

Oldmixon's  Account  of  Penn's  Jour- 
ney, 132  ;  Orchards  at  Pennsbury, 
336  ;   Prosperity  of  Penn's  Colony,    408 

Official  Corruption, 296,  302 

Oliver,  Evan,  on  Penn's  Arrival,  .    .    .    67 
Owen,  Dr.  G.,  at  Chester, 226 

'■    Pamphlets,  German 304 

Parmeter,   John     from    N.    Y.,    239; 

Visits  Penn, 259 

Pastorius,  F.  D.,  Arrival,  130;  Visits 

Penn, 131 

Passes  Required, 304 

Pemberton,  Phineas,  110, 343  ;  Records 

■        Earmarks,  198;  in  111  Health,  .    .      383 

!    Penington,  Edward,    Marriage,    235  ; 

j        Surveyor-General,  236 ;   Executor,  .  372 
Penn,  Granville  John,  74;   Disposes  of 

'        West's  Treaty, 76 

I    Penn,   Gulielma   Maria,  Manor,  142; 

I       Notice  of, .      213 

Penn,  Hannah,  262, 265,  291,  296,  323,  326, 

I  368,  381,  399,  400,  401,  407 


422 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Penn,  John,  Born  in  Phila.,  240,  307; 
Receives  Perkasie  Manor,  242  ;  a 
Manor  on  Schuylkill,  367 ;  Religion,  402 
Penn,  Letitia,  biog  sketch,  223;  Anx- 
ious for  England,  341,  407  ;  Receives 
Mount  Joy  Manor,  366,  392  ;  Joy  on 
Return,  387  ;  Marriage,  393  ;  Por- 
tion, 395;  Declines  Slaves,  399,  400; 
Notice  of,  391  ;  Certificate  of  Re- 
moval, 393  ;  Religion, 402 

Penn  Manuscripts, 25 

Penn,  Springett, 303 

Penn,  Wm.,  Admiral,  17,  Knighted, 
25  ;  Wife  Margaret  Jasper,  54 ;  In- 
debtedness to, 337 

Penn,  Wm.,  Proprietary  ;  His  Charter 
and  Powers,  22 ;  His  Promises 
therefor,  24;  Sends  Markham  to 
Penna.,  27;  Address  to  Colonists, 
29;  Commission  to  Markham,  30; 
The  Swedes,  36;  Exertions  for  the 
Colony,  44 ;  Ideas  of  Government, 
51  ;  Prepares  Laws,  52  ;  Opinion  of 
Justice,  53;  Death  of  his  Mother, 
54  ;  Encourages  Emigration,  55 ; 
Departs  for  America,  58 ;  On  a 
Country  Life,  60 ;  Address  to 
Friends,  61 ;  Fondness  for  Horses, 
65  ;  Arrives  at  New  Castle,  66  ;  Ap- 
points Justices,  67;  Horseback 
Journeys,  72,  74,  142  ;  Visits  N.  Y. 
and  Md.,  73;  His  Promises,  82; 
Visits  Lord  Baltimore,  83  ;  His  Ex- 
tensive Correspondence,  87 ;  Send 
him  Evil  Reports,  93,  98  ;  Account 
of  his  Late  Visit,  103  ;  Gift  of  a  Lot, 
105 ;  Complains  of  West  Jersey, 
105  ;  Presides  as  Judge,  108 ;  At- 
tachment to  the  Country,  112; 
Writings  Translated  and  Published, 
129;  Travels  to  the  Interior,  132; 
Susquehanna  Purchase,  134  ;  Issues 
a  Proclamation,  136 ;  Presides  at 
Two  Trials  for  Witchcraft,  148; 
Admirable  Letter  Writer,  161  ; 
Reprimands  Selling  Rum  to  Indians, 
i6i  ;  Appoints  Provincial  Judges, 
163;  Commissioners,  164;  Settles 
about  River  Lots,  166 ;  Fretwell's 
Great  Tract,  167  ;  Embarks  on  Brig 
Endeavor,  168 ;  Valedictory  to 
Friends,  168  ;  Arrival  in  England, 
169 ;  Visits  the  King  and  Duke, 
172  ;  Writes  Another  Account,  173  ; 
Advice  to  Emigrants,  179 ;  Mis- 
fortunes, 192  ;  Called  "  Lord  Penn," 
197;  His  Barge,  201,260;  Advice 
for  Harmony,  203  ;  Gov.  Dungan's 
Opposition,  206  ;  Financial  Troubles, 
208  ;  Solicits  Money,  211  ;  Restora- 
tion of  his  Province,  214  ;  Union  of 
the  Colonies,  216  ;  Hannah  Callow- 
hill,  218;    Procrastinates,  219  ;    Cer- 


PAGE. 

tificates  of  Removal,  220  ;  Delivers 
a  Farewell  Sermon,  222  ;  Embarks 
for  America,  223  ;  Family,  223  ; 
Landing  at  Chester,  224  ;  Arrives  at 
Phila.,  227;  Visits  Markham,  229  ; 
Pirates,  237  ;  Indians  and  Negroes, 
248 ;  Address  to  Council,  249 ; 
Compensation  for  Services,  253 ; 
Gouty  Attacks,  259,  273,  327,  331, 
383,  388  ;  Pocket  Compass,  265 ;  Re- 

.  ception  of  Governors,  275  ;  Sug- 
gestions, 279;  Visits  Lord  Bello- 
mont,  278 ;  Model  Address,  282  ; 
Exertions  for  a  Ship,  283,  285  ;  In- 
disposed, 291  ;  Court  of  Inquiry, 
298;  Winter  in  Phila.,  306  ;  On  the 
Death  of  Lord  Bellomont,  308 ; 
Second  Trial  for  Witchcraft,  314  ; 
Efforts  to  Deprive  him  of  his  Prov- 
ince, 333,  336,  337,  339  ;  Remark- 
able Industry,  339 ;  Embarrass- 
ments, 340,  396,  413  ;  Disapproves  of 
Swearing,  343  ;  Makes  a  Speech  to 
Assembly,  344  ;  Indians'  Farewell, 
350 ;  Covenants  With,  351 ;  the 
Germans'  Tract,  360  ;  Disposes  to 
the  Swedes,  365  ;  New  Charter  of 
Privileges,  369 ;  Makes  his  Will, 
371 ;  Arrangements  for  Final  De- 
parture, 377;  Instructions  to  Lo- 
gan, 378,  380,  397 ;  Embarks  on 
Ship  Dolniahoy,  380,  ;  Arrival  in 
England,  382 ;  Expenditures  in 
Penna. ,  386  ;  Proposes  (lov.  Evans, 
389  ;  No  Financier,  395  ;  Holding 
Slaves,  398,  401;  Children  as  Friends, 
402  ;  His  Indian  Names, 414 

Penn  and  Assembly,  73,  78,  154^  241,  250, 

253,  274,  276,  282,  285,  286,  301,  334, 

342,  353,  364 

Penn's  Benevolence,  51,  89,  105,  147,  166, 
225,  227,  261,  283,  284 

Penn  and  Council,  at  Phila  ,  96,  124,  136, 
137,  140,  148,  153,  161,  203,  241,  246, 
249,  253,  254,  255,  258,  259,  260,  263, 
264,  273,  282,  295,  303,  306,  310,  314, 
317,  327,  333,  350  ;  at  New  Castle, 
154,  169,  285 ;  at  Lewis,  .....  166 

Penn,  encomiums  on,  by  James  Clay- 
poole,  47,  147;  Pastorius,  131  ;  J. 
Oldmixon,  181  408;  Richard  Town- 
send,  182  ;  Ed.  Armstrong,  183,  412  ; 
James  Parton,  184,  413 ;  George 
Bancroft,  185,  416  ;  Amer.  Encyclo- 
pedia, 186;  George  Ellis,  187.  415  ; 
Thos.  Clarkson,  187;  Jas.  Bowden, 
188,  410,  416;  Du  Ponceau,  189, 
405;  S.  M.  Janney,  191,  414; 
Moral  Almanac,  191 ;  Peter  McCall, 
196  ;  Dixon,  409  ;  Macaulay,  414  ; 
Ed.  Burke,  415  ;  Montesquieu,     .    .  416 

Penn's  Letters  :  to  the  Colonists,  29  ; 
to     Markham,     37,    76,     92,    237  ; 


INDEX. 


423 


PAGE. 

Indians,  37,  40  ;  Wife  and  Children, 
59 ;  E.  Herman,  68;  Lords  of  Plan- 
tations, 83,  251,2  92,  388,  389;  Earl 
of  Clarendon,  85  ;  Lord  Culpepper, 
88  ;  Wm.  Darval,  68  ;  Lord  Hyde, 
80  ;  Jasper  Yates,  90 ;  Col.  Henry 
Sidney,  11^  ;  Lord  North,  116  ;  Earl 
of  Sunderland,  118,  159;  Henry 
Savill,  119;  Col.  Thos.  Taylor,  122; 
John  Tucker,  122  ;  Philemon  Lloyd, 
123  ;  King  Charles,  125  ;  Free  So- 
ciety of  Trades,  128;  Earl  of  Arran, 
145  ;  Earl  of  Roche.ster,  145  ;  Mar- 
quis of  Halitax,  145  ;  Duke  of  York, 
157;  James  Harrison,  169,  199; 
Margaret  Fox,  171  ;  Thos.  Lloyd, 
202  ;  Provincial  Council,  203,  208 ; 
Robert  Turner,  210 ;  Secretary 
Vernon,  228, 247,  286  ;  Col.  Codrine- 
ton,  228,  247,  w;  Governor  Nich- 
olson, 231;  Major  Donaldson,  231  ; 
Wm.  Clark,  232  ;  Gov.  Blackiston, 
232,290,  313;  John  Parmeter,  239, 
259  ;  Gov.  Nanfan,  _23g,  246,  252, 
240, 


317,  324,  364  ;    Lord  Beflomont, 
251,   250;     Sir  Thos.  Beeston, 
Gov.   of  Barbadoes,  242  ;    Com 
sioners    of  Customs.  244,  293;    M. 
Birch,  255  ;    James  Logan,  260,  265, 


242; 
mLs- 


268,  269,  273,  275,  277,  322,  327,  330, 
335i  34O1  383 :  Owners  of  Ship 
Providence,  283;  Judge  Ouarry, 
288,  288  ;  R.  Ashcton,  Sheriff,  289  ; 
Death  of  Lord  Bcllomont,  307,  308  ; 
John  Hans,  310  ;  Col.  Jenkins,  ^12  ; 
N  Y.  Government,  313;  Chas. 
Lawton,  336  ;  Duke  of  Devonshire 
and  Others,  337  ;  Elarl  of  Homney, 
339  :  Col.  Dcpeister, 347 

Penn's  Travels :  Embarks  for  Amer- 
ica, 59,  223:  at  New  Castle,  66,  70, 
104,  136,  289,  370,  398;  Upland  and 
Chester,  67,  84,  108,  225 ;  Philadel- 
phia, 71,  5>6,  98,  126,159,227,255; 
Y;3&\  Jersey,  73  ;  New  York,  73, 135, 
276,  278;  L<mg  Island,  73;  Mary- 
land, 73,  83,  320 ;  Pennsbury,  93, 
95,  ito.  III,  259,  291  ;  Lewis,  103, 
166,  312 ;  Perkasie,  107 ;  Susque- 
hanna River,  132,  317,  318  ;  Umbili- 
camence,  74,  142  ;  Piahewickon,  42  ; 
Sinewsickon,  74;  Burlington,  235, 
243 ;  Neshaminy,  243  ;  Embarks  for 
England,  168,  378  ;  Haverford,  261 ; 
Welsh  Friends,  262 ;  Indians  on 
Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna,  319; 
Merion,  321 ;  Gwynedd, 322 

Penn,  Wm.  Jr.,  Marriage,  223;  letter 
to  Logan,  303 ;  Biography  Sketch, 
390;  Character,  391  ;   Religion,    .    ,409 

Pennsylvania:  Grant  of,  17;  Penn's 
Petition  for,  24,  25;  How  Named, 
18,  19,  20  ;  Bounds  of,  21 ;  Products, 


PAGE. 

33:  Toleration  in,  58;  Divided  into 
Counties,  84;  Prosperity  of,  88,  115, 
146,408,  411;  Described  by  Penn, 
44,  85,  88,  114,  120,  132,  144;  F.  D. 
Pastorius,  131  ;  Thos.  Paschall,  147; 
Gabriel  Thomas,  190;  01dmi.xon 
408;      Government  Reviewed,   286; 

Time  Spent  by  Penn, 384 

Pennsbury  Manor,  40  ;  Site  for  the 
Mansion,  73  ;  Friends  hold  Worship, 
100  ;  First  Mentioned,  iii ;  Account 
of,  112;  Residence  of  Penn,  153; 
Provisions  and  Seeds  from  England, 
170,  199;  Harrison  Steward,  199; 
Resurveyed  and  Draft,  247  ;  Penn's 
Return,  259,  291,  322,  324,  363 ;  In- 
dians Expected,  260 ;  Improvements, 
263,  267,  268,  270  ;  On  Early  Map, 
304 ;  Cider-making,  J35 ;  Old- 
mixon's     Visit,    336;     Brew-house, 


Error     about,     350 ;     Goods 
386;     Coi 
Neglected  by  Logan, 401 


342 

Catalogued,    386 ;     Con 


150;     <-■ 
dition, 


400; 


l^i 


Pennypack   and  Poquessing  Brir'gcs, 

265,  266 

Perkasie  Visited  by  Penn,  107  ;  Manor 
Surveyed, 242 

Philadelphia,  First  Mentioned,  72 ; 
Commerce,  116;  Plan  of,  129  ;  De- 
scribed by  Penn,  114,  128,  144,  146, 
r5  ;  Prosperity,  176,  188,190,230; 
fellow  Fever,  224,  227 ;  Ni^ht 
Watch  Appointed,  258;  Indian 
Alarm  theie,  263;  Governor's  Meet- 
ing, 279 ;  Incorporated  a  City,  363  ; 
Bounds  of,  364 ;  Penn  Preaches 
there,  368  ;  Governor's  Final  De- 
parture, 371 ;  Population  in  1702,      .  404 

Pirates,  Troubles  About,  231 ;  Bra- 
denham  Captured,  232;  Suspicions 
Respecting,  233 ;  Proclamation  Con- 
cerning, 233;  Randolph's  Letter, 
236 ;  Lords  of  Trade  Thereon,  237  ; 
James  Brown  Suspected,  237;  Laws 
Passed  Against,  241,  250,  279; 
Penn's  Letters  Thereon,  244,  246,  247, 
251,252,  293,  317, 

Population,  Estimate  of,  42,  131,  146, 187, 
408,  4",  415 

Post  Offices  Established, no 

Prison  at  Upland  or  Chester,     .    .  69,  376 

Proud's  Pennsylvania,  129;  Error  in,  224 

Quarry,  R.,  Judge  of  Admiralty,  229,  230, 
251,  284,  285,  288,  398,  413 

Randolph,  E.,  on  the  Quakers,     .   .    .236 

Rawie,  Wm.,  Address, 56,  195 

Richardson,    F.,  Arrives    with   Mark- 
ham,  31 

Richardson,  John, 35^ 

Roberts,  Ranger  of  Phila.  County,     .  199 


424 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Routlege,  John,  326;     Notice  of  his 

Family, 327 

Rudman,  Rev.  Andrew, 365 

Kum  Prohibited  to  Indians,  32  ;  De- 
mand it,  154  ;  Reprimanded,  161 ; 
John  Hans,  Trader,  270,  271  ; 
Penn's  Opposition, 353 

Sapasnick  Island, 40,  iii,  112 

Schooling,  Cost  of, .    .  140 

Schuylkill  River,  109  ;  Ferries  at,    .    .  258 

Servants  Chastised, 124 

Shad,  Abundance  of, 177 

Sheriffs  and  Coroners, 369 

Shippen,  Edw.,  Notice  of,  266  ;  Own- 
ers of  a     Ship,    340 ;    Mayor,    364 ; 

Executor, 372,  379 

Shipping  Increase, 42 

Sidney,  Col.  Henry, 113 

Simcoe,  Major,  Protects  Treaty  Elm,    75 

Small-Pox  on  the  Welcome, 63 

Sotcher,  John, 200,  263,  310 

Sotcher,  John  and  Mary  Lofty,  200; 
Marriage,  354;  Their  Certificates, 
356,357;  Descendants,  358;  Notice 
of,  359 ;  Receives  a  Legacy,  ....  383 
State  Paper  Office,  London,  106,  no,  233 
Story,  Thos.,  Account  of  Penn's  Arri- 
val, 225 ;  With  Penn  at  Burlington, 
235,  243;  Bucks  Quarterly,  244; 
Penn's    Esteem  for,  279 ;    Examines 

Laws,  296  ;    Recorder, 364 

Sunderland,  Earl  of, 18,  85,  114 

Sussex  County,  Troubles  in, 311 

Susquehanna  Falls  Purchase,   .    .  136,  274 

Swedish  Ambassador, 36 

Swedish  Houses  of  Worship,  42  ;  Pur- 
chase at  Molatton, 365 

ralbot.  Col.  George,  ....  135,  157,  159 

Tamanen  and  Wingebone, 106 

Taylor,  Col.  Thos. 83,  112,  125 

Terrill,  Robert,  Reprimanded,     ...  161 
Thomas,  Gabriel,  Account  of  Penna.,  190 


PAGE. 

Toleration  in  Pennsylvania,  58,  79,  410, 

412,  413,  415 
Townsend,  Richard,  Arrival,  ....  63 
Treaty   Tree,    75;    Monument   on    its 

Site, 75 

Tribute  of  Beaver  Skins,  21  ;    A  Rose 

on  St.  Michael's  Day,      23 

Turner,  Robert,  Merchant,  19 ;    Letter 

to,  64;    On  the  Germans,  132  ;    Apt. 

Judge,  163  ;  Progress  of  Phila.,  190  ; 

New  Meeting  Houses, 195 

Umbilicamence, 74,  141,  142 

Union  of  Colonies  Proposed  by  Penn,  216 
Union  Penna.  and  Delaware,    ....    82 
Upland,  Court  at,  33;    Account  of  69; 
Name  Changed,  82  ;  First  Assembly,  73 

Vane,  Ancient,  on  Chester  Mill,    .    .    .  244 

Venison  Abundant, 34,  35,  181 

Virginia  Governors,      .  ...  277,  279 

Wade,  Robert,  at  Upland,  69;   Wife 

Lydia, 226 

Wampum,  Penn's  Great  Belt,   ....    74 

Warrants  for  Surveys,    141,  151,  167,  303, 

360,  365 

Watson's  Annals,  Error  in, 351 

Welcome  sails  for  England, 76 

Welsh,    Arrival    of,    151 ;      Purchase 

Large  Tract, 152 

West,  Benjamin,  Paints  Great  Treaty,    76 
West  New  Jersey,  Grant  of,  17 ;  Com- 
missioners to  Treat  with, 105 

White,  George,  Purcha.se, 162 

William  III.  becomes  King,  .    .  209 

Witchcraft,   Trial    for,   148;    Another 

Charge,  314 ;  Recognized  by  Law,  .  315 
Woolston,  John,  at  Burlington,    ...    72 

Yates,  Jasper,  Penn's  Reply  to,   60  ; 

Notice  of, 92 

Year  to  begin  in  March, 81 

York,  Duke  of,  Penn's  Friend,  23,  25  ; 

Visits  him, 172 


A  FEW  copies  of  the  following  works  by  Wm. 

J.  Buck,  may  be  obtained  at  Friends'  Book 

Association,  at  the  S.  W.  corner  of  Race  and 

Fifteenth  Streets,  Philadelphia.    Sent  post-paid 

at  the  prices  mentioned. 


History  of  Montgomery  County  within  the  Schuyl- 
kill Valley.  Norristown,  1859.  Large  8 vo.,  125  pp.,  $1.50. 
A  pioneer  work,  chiefly  prepared  from  original  materials. 


Early  Accounts  of  Petroleum  in  the  United  States. 
Read  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  March  (3, 
1876.     Titusville,  Pa.     Large  8vo.,  12  pp.,  50  cents.     Rare. 


History  of  Montgomery  County,  Penna.,  from  the 
earliest  period  of  its  settlement  to  the  present  time.  In  Scott's 
Atlas  of  said  county.  Containing  numerous  illustrations  and 
colored  maps  of  all  its  townships,  boroughs,  and  principal 
villages,  including  names  of  land  and  lot  owners.  Phila.,  1877. 
Size,  I7>^  by  14^  inches,  108  pp.,  $10.00. 


Local  Sketches  and  Legends  pertaining  to  Bucks  and 
Montgomery  Counties,  Penna.  A  neat  i2mo.  of  340  pp.,  1887, 
$2.00.     Rich  in  folk-lore. 


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